- Ray McClendon
E D E N
Loving union, sweet embrace
Breathless pleasure, face to face
Limbs entwined, husband… wife…
Exquisite gasp, font of life
Image bearing, new creation
Children born, sweet relation
Multiplying, fruitful life
Eden’s garden, free of strife
Family circle, living in
Warm communion, absent sin
Little hearts, innocent
Humble children, heaven sent
Shades of Eden, Kingdom’s Child
Obedient, undefiled
Unified, peaceful walk
Hand in hand, garden talk
For a time, we dwell as one
Father, mother… daughter, son...
Few, precious years we are whole
Children love both heart and soul
Grateful for those early years
E’re rebellion brings us tears
Forbidden fruit, selfish thoughts
All grown up now, calling shots
Separation, broken heart
Growing distance, far apart
Prodigal, intent to roam
Leaving family, leaving home
The human family, the Divine One too
Suffer, when loved ones who
Intent on self, sever ties
Love and unity despise
Shades of Eden, trusting love
Little children, from above
Slice of heaven, thank-you Lord
Few, precious years of sweet accord
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ And he laid his hands on them…”
–Matthew 19:14
REFLECTIONS
Since God means for us to think about everything theologically, my grandchildren have been teaching me some profound lessons about our relationships within family as well as our relationship with God. My own children, when they were babies, were teaching me the same wondrous lesson, though I lacked the knowledge and insight to see it at the time. But I am thankful that God has enabled me to think this way now because of what I see in my grandchildren. The time each of us gets to spend with our sweet, sweet children and grandchildren when they are young and loving and innocent–before they reach the age of accountability and rebellion–is a little slice of dwelling in our own Garden of Eden for a few precious years. What we enjoy with our little ones in their first few years must be, at least a little bit, what it must have been like for Adam and Eve and their earliest children and their relationship with God in the garden before The Fall.
A blessing. A revelation. A little bit of heaven here on earth.