Forest Retreat

On the pine-needle carpet through dappled light
They walked through tall trees
To where water shone bright
Old woman, young child, their hands held tight.

Mosses, lichens, bright green ferns
Bordered their path as it downward turned.
In that mystical realm of beauty and peace
They looked in awe and their talking ceased.

In the haunting quiet they heard a faint cry
“Please will you help me, or I’ll die!”
Looking down they saw a tiny fern man
Holding an acorn cup in his hand.

The small boy went down the stream with the cup
Dipped in the water and filled it up.
“I’ll always remember what you have done.
Thank you so much,” Fern man said and was gone.

They continued to sit in enchantment and wonder
Until they heard rumbling of distant thunder
It was time to leave this ethereal place
Reluctant return to the human race.

Ruth Jessup

Pure Love

Why does my small grandson bring me such joy?
How does he fill me with hope?
Because his love is unconditional.
In his innocence he does not judge me.
He always accepts me as I am.
The radiance of his face and beaming smile are never fake.
His whole, small body emanates pleasure when he sees me.
His love is not made up but is totally real flowing from a pure heart.
At his young age he has not been tainted by cynicism or distrust.
He gives of himself sacrificially in a humble way with no realisation of his giving.

I am so grateful for his exuberant zest for life.
I pray God will restore in me that pure, unjudgmental love and the joy of life of a small child.

Ruth Jessup

Hand In Hand

I tightly hold my small grandson’s hand
When I know there is danger near
At other times his hand in mine
Reassures him he has nothing to fear.

At other times we simply hold hands to touch
Because we love each other so very much.
Yet the sweetest thing is when he holds my hand
Saying, ”Grandmere, I’ll help you to walk and stand.

He really thinks he is helping me
I don’t need his help but enjoy company
So I continue holding his hand in mine
We are together so everything’s fine.

All this is very similar to God and me
He always holds my hand so tenderly
Protecting, guiding, leading me along
Reassuring me I’m His and to Him belong.

Ruth Jessup

My Grandson

My heart always melts when I see him
With his smile from ear to ear
He has no ulterior motives
His trust,and love for me is quite clear.

Jesus has said that I need to be
Like my little grandson if I wish to see
For to enter into the Kingdom of God
Child-like trust is a vital reality.

Luke 18:16

Ruth Jessup

Grandchildren Encouragement

My grandchildren bring me so much joy
Wholehearted love; sharing their hope
If it were not for them and their exuberance
I know I would find it much harder to cope
For in my ageing I need often to see
Energetic new life and how things can still be.

Ruth Jesup

Generational Meeting

There is an awesome meeting place
A special rendez-vous of minds
A space where grandchildren in their innocence
Encounter grandparents with their experience.
Here a profound bond, defying explanation, is formed.
A powerful force beyond human understanding
That builds a bridge spanning a generation
Uniting two age stages of life
Establishing an indestructible tie
An unbreakable cord of love.

Ruth Jessup