My late brother always loved doing covered bridges. On fact, he's doing them now in Heaven but I reminisce in spirit with him b y solving them whenever I can.
When I was a fairly young Christian I joined a Bible Study group and two of the ladies there got together and bought me an NIV version of the Bible. One of them was joy and she prayed for her husband for years and I learned last week that he recently passed away and she was in full time care with dementia. I wrote the following poem for her many years ago and would like to include it here and dedicate it to her.
THE FERN
There were many ferns in the woods that day
But one really caught my eye
'Twas clinging to a bare, craggy rock
'Neath a dark and foreboding sky.
This tender little fern
Brought to mind a dear, sweet friend
Whose husband was as that rock
Frowning, stubborn - his will wouldn't bend.
We all sat back in smug self assurance
That her husband would never be won
His lack of interest in spiritual things
Made it impossible for him to know the Son.
But she went on quietly loving
As God always did with her
God knew her heart's desire
She just continued to care.
As I pondered on that tender fern
Which could be bruised by merely a touch
I hoped that my friends husband's attitude
Would not affect her too much.
But I knew deep within my heart
She and the fern were as one
Both getting strength from an unseen source
Hers from God's precious Son.
As I turned for one last look
It occurred to me with a shock
There was something I just had noticed
THE LITTLE FERN HAD CRACKED THAT ROCK! (c)
[No 158 - 6 Aug 1984)
Sad to say I don't know whether her husband came into a relationship with the Lord or not. And I still have contact with the other friend who will be 83 on December 24.
That is a beautiful poem Aussie! God bless you too.
katlena
Nov 7, 2017
Beautiful!!
rahrah1820
Nov 7, 2017
This poem brings back precious memories of when I first became a Christian too. A young woman, whose parents were missionaries gave me the bible she had carried with her in the mission field. She was an awesome lady, who gave me a very personal and awesome gift. You have written a poem that blesses me, and I know others. Thank you for sharing your heart and gift.
pixipixil
Nov 7, 2017
Good one, Aussie.
mamag15
Nov 7, 2017
That is beautiful Aussie. It is beautiful.
leia7
Nov 7, 2017
Very lovely poem. Everything is in The Lord's hands now.
marine5153
Nov 7, 2017
Absolutely beautiful. Let us all have faith. I might add, (for myself at least) that anyone who has ever been married, raised kids, kept the home fires burning,.....well, it took a lot of faith. And, cheerfully, I would add that after 8 kids, 16 grandkids. and, finally, 2 great grands, I definitely am one happy and thankful gal.
aussiesapphire
Nov 7, 2017
You are such an amazing bunch of people and all your words touched me in so many ways. What a fantastic group this is and I for one am so thankful to Kevin and staff who make all this sharing and caring for one another possible. Bless you heaps Kevin. Hugs.
aussiesapphire
Nov 7, 2017
And marine, what a great effort! I only had one child who I considered to be a miracle, and now she has nothing to do with me (long story involving drugs), and I have two grandchildren one is 16 and the other almost 18 and sadly I have no contact with them either. But my friends on here certainly help to make up for that. Hugs.
JoyceRogers
Nov 7, 2017
Aussie, you are such a gifted poet! Such a beautiful picture this poem paints! I pray that your relationship with your daughter and grandkids is like this poem...hold on tight and the crack will eventually break their rock wide open!
Lots of love and gentle hugs...
aussiesapphire
Nov 8, 2017
Thanks Joyce you are such a dear. Hugs.
Coravee
Nov 22, 2017
Thank you for that encouraging poem. My church class has a list we pray for, and some names have been on there years. Someday the fern will crack the rock :)
Okay, guys funny and sad story. Last night I had a paper due for my EDUC in Philosophy. I worked on this paper for 3 days and just as I was getting ready to put the finishing touches on it, my computer crashed. I lost everything!!! I did write my professor and he is giving me a 2-day extension and I will not lose any points for being late. So now I have to start over again with Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aristotle. So, my next two days are going to be working on this paper plus I start week 2 on this class plus my Biology which I failed my test, 28 out if 80 OUCH!! So, here I go again. I hope your day is far better than mine! God bless and have a great day.
Definitely not fun! I hope all goes well for you this time around!
rahrah1820
Nov 7, 2017
Keep on pluggin', mamag! You are so determined, I know you'll get it all done, and in a good manner. You've got this!
trynfindit
Nov 7, 2017
Will say a little prayer that everything goes well with your classwork. This is an excellent example why important things should be kept on flash-drives and backed up often. I keep very little on my hard drive anymore having learned the 'computer crash' lesson some years back.
JAMP124
Nov 7, 2017
Sounds like you are working on your PhD ---- piles high and deep!
aussiesapphire
Nov 7, 2017
Oh mamag, what a disaster. I believe there are people who can retrieve such information if you only had more time. I will pray for a miracle for you and retrieval of the info. Hugs.
Taffi
Nov 7, 2017
If you can, find a computer store that will retrieve the info for you. Or at least they'll check to see if they can retrieve it for you. Get that biology, this time around! And good luck in playing with Plato, Aristotle, Augustine and Aristotle. Two Aristotle? Hugs, and lots of energy sent your way!
JoyceRogers
Nov 7, 2017
Mamag, I can sympathize so well! I've lost many things into the computer black hole, but the worst was a. 300 page Program book for Cub Scout Leaders! My husband kept reminding me to save my work, but he neglected to tell me WHERE to save it! Trynfindit is right...a flash drive is the best thing to back up your work! That experience made for a scrambled fury and the help of about 10 friends to re-write the book and get it printed before the Cub Scout "Pow-Wow" the next week! I can still feel the panic attack I had!
I can also relate with the college work. I went back to college to finish my degree in my 50's. The Adult program was a lot more intense than the "youngsters." Each class was a semester's work squeezed into 5 weeks. Then the next class started, so the pre-class work of the 2nd class overlapped with the finals of the 1st class. I thought my head would explode sometimes!
I just remembered parts of a joke...Since I can't remember the whole joke, I'll give you paraphrased version:
For some reason that escapes me, Jesus and Satan were taking an on-line test. The first to finish the test with all the correct answers would be given power over the whole world. They worked on their tests for three days without stopping. 15 minutes before the end of the test all the electricity went out. When the lights came back on, Satan rushed back to his computer and screamed, " The computer ate my test!!! Aaarrrrggggg!!! " Jesus quietly walked back to his computer, punched a couple of keys and the complete test came up on his computer with all the correct answers. The moral of the story: "JESUS SAVES!!! "
(my apologies to anyone who knows the real joke! )
carolsapple
Nov 7, 2017
I'm so sorry to hear about your paper being lost and having to re type it. I've learned from experience to always back everything up. I also learned to save my work - what happened to you - also happened to me. I typed a document but I didn't save it. We had a huge storm and the computer crashed and I ended up re typing a 40 page document.
carolsapple
Nov 7, 2017
Yes Aussie - There are people who can retrieve information off of a hard drive.
mamag15
Nov 8, 2017
Thank you all so much for having my back. Taffi, the second Aristotle was supposed to be Augustus. I was just so frustrated!! My professor gave me a two-day extension so I have until Thursday to get it done. I called IT from school and they tried to retrieve it my information but it was gone. Maybe the second paper will be better than the first one. I could not handle doing a report of large proportion like some of you I have read about I would have had a nervous break down for sure. I am so grateful for the support team I have on here. Thank you all so much and God bless each of you.
aussiesapphire
Nov 8, 2017
I admire you mamag, I could never study and retain the information, but our loving God has blessed me in other ways. Hugs and hope it all turns out well for you.
Can you imagine the clunk, clip, clop as the wheels of the horse drawn buggy go across the bridge? Imagine the slight darkness as you travel the bridge. And then the light hits as you get to the end. OK, waxing poetical stops here :)
Found this:
The Narrows Covered Bridge crosses Sugar Creek at the eastern edge of Turkey Run State Park and is a single span Burr Arch Truss covered bridge structure that was built by Joseph A. Britton in 1882. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Narrows Road bypasses bridge, which is open to pedestrians.
elijah13
Nov 7, 2017
Thanks for the info. I find out more interesting things when I do the puzzles.
THE FERN
There were many ferns in the woods that day
But one really caught my eye
'Twas clinging to a bare, craggy rock
'Neath a dark and foreboding sky.
This tender little fern
Brought to mind a dear, sweet friend
Whose husband was as that rock
Frowning, stubborn - his will wouldn't bend.
We all sat back in smug self assurance
That her husband would never be won
His lack of interest in spiritual things
Made it impossible for him to know the Son.
But she went on quietly loving
As God always did with her
God knew her heart's desire
She just continued to care.
As I pondered on that tender fern
Which could be bruised by merely a touch
I hoped that my friends husband's attitude
Would not affect her too much.
But I knew deep within my heart
She and the fern were as one
Both getting strength from an unseen source
Hers from God's precious Son.
As I turned for one last look
It occurred to me with a shock
There was something I just had noticed
THE LITTLE FERN HAD CRACKED THAT ROCK! (c)
[No 158 - 6 Aug 1984)
Sad to say I don't know whether her husband came into a relationship with the Lord or not. And I still have contact with the other friend who will be 83 on December 24.
Take care and God bless all of you. Hugs.
Lots of love and gentle hugs...
I can also relate with the college work. I went back to college to finish my degree in my 50's. The Adult program was a lot more intense than the "youngsters." Each class was a semester's work squeezed into 5 weeks. Then the next class started, so the pre-class work of the 2nd class overlapped with the finals of the 1st class. I thought my head would explode sometimes!
I just remembered parts of a joke...Since I can't remember the whole joke, I'll give you paraphrased version:
For some reason that escapes me, Jesus and Satan were taking an on-line test. The first to finish the test with all the correct answers would be given power over the whole world. They worked on their tests for three days without stopping. 15 minutes before the end of the test all the electricity went out. When the lights came back on, Satan rushed back to his computer and screamed, " The computer ate my test!!! Aaarrrrggggg!!! " Jesus quietly walked back to his computer, punched a couple of keys and the complete test came up on his computer with all the correct answers. The moral of the story: "JESUS SAVES!!! "
(my apologies to anyone who knows the real joke! )
The Narrows Covered Bridge crosses Sugar Creek at the eastern edge of Turkey Run State Park and is a single span Burr Arch Truss covered bridge structure that was built by Joseph A. Britton in 1882. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Narrows Road bypasses bridge, which is open to pedestrians.