valley of the shadow . .

We're sitting here in New South Wales tonight,

we've heard about your dear wife, and her man,

much damage, and the swelling that’s a blight,

and nurses doing ev’rything they can.

Our hearts go out, we feel so pow-er-less

(as weak as a small baby just new-born),

unable both to act, or to express,

well, anything of help. We feel forlorn.

And yet we trust and know God’s love is large,

it’s into bloody crucifix’n wastes,

that Jesus went, to lead us in the charge

to stand against our dragging chains (& hastes).

So thank you mate, for spending precious time

to fill us in, to keep us in the loop.

We also hope to see more of that rhyme

he started when we were all in that coop*.

We read last night (to visiting new pair

of lovers who were staying in our home),

the witnesses at our wedding who shared

that job, your names were the first two, alone,

and thus reminded once again of Pen-

ny, prayed for her, and then her man as well.

And now we've heard some more, we ask “God en-

ny-thing you do to heal her ... please compel

that body to be fixed - to “truly good”.

But if we all now go, that feels ok.

Please keep her safe herself, as Jesus would,

your love is what makes “living” worth the wait!”

---

* "that coop": that chance chicken pen, when we were together at Uni, then the various rhyming times since then... and more to come. ...