She hath wings

Learning to soar above life's storms

recent posts

about

I am a wife and mother of three beautiful children. I love to write, do craft, cook, visit the beach, shop, go for walks in picturesque places, play music and sing.

  • Fixing My Eyes

    I’ve tried all week to watch a movie on Netflix but I just couldn’t settle and concentrate. At first I obsessively checked the Coronavirus death/case counts for the countries mentioned, studying the graphs, trying to predict what would happen next, awake past midnight and getting more anxious by the minute. Then I began to worship. It was the only thing that made sense in the chaos. I did a bit of panic buying then I realised that even the most prepared person would eventually run out of fresh produce and other necessities. People around me were struggling and I wasn’t helping. This wasn’t what I was created to do.

    I started praying and I remembered what I used to do before life got hard, though it was still a challenge. I used to pour out my heart on paper, sharing from my heart, bold enough to lay it bare, so that others could benefit from my journey. Sometimes I don’t feel like writing. Other times I have something to say but I get distracted by other menial tasks or pointless time-wasting pursuits. Yet for some people on this earth, time will be a luxury as they fight for their lives. We cannot bring back yesterday and do it better but we can do today well.

    So I’m going to write. I’m not going to hold back- I’m not going to hide my faith either, so if it’s not your cup of tea, that’s ok. I must, however, open my mouth and praise my Maker in the years I am given. From the time I could speak I sang songs to God and this past week, as I saw others making videos to encourage others to lift up their praise to God, I was strengthened in my spirit. This is not a battle we are facing alone. Just like in 2 Chronicles 20, God is fighting for us. We need to praise and trust Him with child-like faith, knowing that He sees the end from the beginning, He cares and He has gone before us.

  • Mother’s Day Poem

    A new life waits to come into the world

    And the mother is filled with joy

    As she feels the movement of life within her;

    A beautiful girl or boy.

    She doesn’t know who her child will resemble

    And his character is not yet revealed,

    Yet within her maternal heart, she finds,

    A promise of a future sealed.

    A mother stands and watches her child

    As he clasps the rung of a chair

    Determined, he takes some wobbly steps

    When he sees her loving stare.

    Soon he tires of the effort

    But he’ll try again before too long,

    And he has been caught up into her arms

    Gentle, yet safe and strong.

    Her little girl gives a chrysanthemum white,

    A token for love that glows,

    And it seems that her mummy could be no happier

    To receive one hundred of those.

    Her mother loves all that God has made

    And this, to her daughter, makes known;

    That she’ll love her just as much as now

    When all the years have flown.

    Throughout the good and bad times

    She feels their joy and pain

    And she gives them hope and support

    Which helps them find their feet again.

    And when there’s encouragement to give-

    Each child, precious and unique;

    She will do her best to give

    The comfort that they seek.

    Years pass by so quickly

    And her children become aware

    That their mother is not infallible

    Nor will she always be there;

    But a mother’s care continues on

    Long after her children are grown –

    And they will be touched for the rest of their lives

    By the love that their mother has shown.

    ©M. Patterson 2000.

  • Crucified

    How could You have stood there,

    Without a word to say,

    As they jeered and mocked and bound You up

    Leading You away.

    I would have had a thousand words

    To silence all their lies,

    But every word You didn’t say

    Was spoken through Your eyes;

    For while they made a fool of You,

    And whipped You without cause,

    Your heart was full of love for them –

    Their sins became Your sores.

    They led You through the temple courts

    And brought You before the crowd –

    People just like me were there,

    Shouting out aloud.

    And not one spoke at Your defence,

    Though You had done no wrong;

    They wanted someone else released

    And You did not have long.

    In just a little while, You were flogged some more –

    Beaten to the ground;

    Flogged and battered till You were crushed,

    Yet no sin in You was found.

    On and on they led You through

    The streets where You had spread your fame –

    They made You carry a heavy cross

     Though You were not to blame.

    The journey was long and Your strength had waned

    As You drew near to the place,

    So they chose a man to share Your load –

    Your burden, to embrace;

    But none could imagine the agony You felt

    Nor the pain of each new blow –

    The torment as each nail drove through Your flesh 

    I will never know.

    They hoisted You up for all to see

    And stripped Your dignity bare;

    Your enemies and friends together, looked on,

    As they crucified You there.

    © M. Patterson 2004

  • Round and Round

    My family and I decided to check out an annual food, music and wine festival tonight. The kids played on the playground and we bumped into some old friends we hadn’t seen for a while. We heard two bands and then my hubby and son rode the dodgem cars together. It was wonderful giving my kids an experience similar to what I had enjoyed as a child. When we first arrived at the festival and saw the carnival rides, we noticed the big Ferris wheel and I longed to go on it as a whole family. Hubby wasn’t keen to spend the money, preferring to go on the Melbourne Star, but somehow I managed to convince him it was worth it. What I didn’t know, was that this was his very first Ferris wheel ride! I hadn’t been on one since my teens. As a joke, I suggested that this could be part of my birthday present.

    We got on and as we reached the top and looked down to the road, I was very glad I hadn’t gone on alone with my daughter. I find heights difficult – surprising, I know (!) that I chose a Ferris wheel ride! I just wanted to be with my family having fun all together. We certainly achieved that … instead of stopping after 2 or 3 rounds as we expected, that Ferris wheel went round about 15-20 times!!! It was quite fast too, much to our amusement! If my husband was worried about value for money (it was $25 for the four of us to go on as a family) he needn’t have been!!! Round and round we went, almost as if they had forgotten to unload everyone! We had a wonderful view of all the carnival rides and the sun getting ready to set as we looked across the marina. What a wonderful way to finish the evening. We will remember those many rounds for years to come- an amusing experience for us four!

  • The Concert

    Standing there under warm lights,

    Violin raised and bow drawn,

    I found you in that sea of faces

    At sweet, innocent, fifteen.

    I’d never seen you through that lens

    And perhaps never will again;

    A thrill not equalled on that stage-

    Proud moment standing still.

    As I played, you did not know

    The ballad became my theme-

    “I’d die for you”, the test;

    The music still reprises.

    Long gone, but not forgotten-

    It hurt because I loved;

    Too close to your warmth, I fell-

    Wings fairly crumpled.

    Although you said goodbye,

    I know I’ll see your face once more-

    (I hope the one I played for,

    Not the one you became!)

    Close to my heart always,

    I’ll save a spot for you-

    When I take the stage last time,

    May my song not be in vain!

    ©️ M. Patterson 12.2.20

  • Being Present

    Being Present

    What a busy start to the school year- I had already returned to work the week prior to when my son returned. My daughter has been super clingy and my son has been struggling to fall asleep till late- so much in his mind. I have had a tendency to brush off their neediness, so drained of mental energy myself. Many times I had wished for some silence to process my thoughts but stress rose in the constant clamour. Then came a bit of a dollar-dropping moment.

    This intense mum season will get quieter, but so will the requests to play with me or for me to listen to another story about Mr B’s Minecraft hobby or to decipher some cutey phrase that Miss A is trying to compose. The time is now! My agenda needs to move over so that my kids feel loved. I need to take time out for myself, but I need to shower my kids with a whole lot of love also. I needn’t be half present- if I’m there, I need to be all in. They know when I’m not really connected. They also learn what I do, more than what I say or write in a birthday card.

    Are you fully present with your loved ones when you visit them or have meals with them? Do you count down the hours to solitude or are you grateful that somebody needs you? It takes work sometimes, but it is a worthy investment of time.

  • A Christmas Reflection

    A Christmas Reflection

    As the Christmas lights dim and carolling ceases,

    Children’s toys litter the floor in pieces –

    My reflective mood comes to the surface again;

    Time to stop and pick up the pen!

    I’m too old to believe in fairytale life,

    As I read of bushfires and growing strife,

    Yet there’s something that gives me hope for the ‘morrow –

    Setting my confidence, parting from sorrow.

    I keep coming back, knowing once more,

    I must share these thoughts, each heart I implore;

    That babe in the manger not weak as we thought –

    He took on hell and in power he fought –

    His death stamping out the sting in our own;

    We no longer had to go it alone.

    Hope came to us that Christmas night –

    And when all has gone dark, He will be our light.

    Traditions come and go but His love will remain,

    Holding us through seasons of joy and pain;

    Guiding us when our way is unclear –

    Steadfast every day of the year.

    © M. Patterson 2.1.20

  • Cat Cafe in Pictures

    It has been about a month since I posted about The Cat Cafe in Melbourne. As promised, very late in the piece, here are some pictures!