Happy Robert Burns' Day

Morning Snowdrops in January

Back again to the islands after continual cleanup of clutter from three or four places. We took a day off to rest today. Doning tartan vest and scarf along with other warm clothes in the 32 degree day I met two friends to walk by the water and drink a wee dram of single malt scotch in celebration of bonnie bard of Scotland, Robert Burns' 250th birthday. The scotch was to keep us warm. ;-)
I read a few of his poems:
To A Louse -on seeing one on a lady's bonnet at church (remembering one long ago Sunday we sat behind a lady with lice crawling in her hair.)

"Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us! And foolish notion:
What airs in dress and gait wad lea'e us, and even devotion! " (sic)

Also appropriatly humbling, seeing that I got up in church today to lead some singing (since the pianist was not there) and I couldn't follow the tune!

The First Six Verses of the Ninetieth Psalm
O Thou, the first, the greatest friend
of all the human race!
Whose strong right hand has ever been
their stay and dwelling-place.

Before the mountains heaved their heads
Beneath Thy forming hand,
Before this ponderous globe itself,
Arose at Thy command;

That Power which raised and still upholds
This universal frame,
From countless, unbeginning time
Was ever still the same.

Those mighty periods of years
Which seem to us so vast,
Appear no more before Thy sight
Than yesterday that's past.

Thou givest the word: Thy creature, man,
Is to existence brought;
Again Thou say'st, "Ye sons of men,
Return ye into nought!"

Thou layest them with all their cares,
In everlasting sleep;
As with a flood Thou takest them off
With overwhelming sweep.

They flourish like the morning flower,
In beauty's pride array'd;
But long ere night cut down, it lies
All wither'd and decay'd.

We are still grieving the losses of mother-in-law, brother, cousins and all that have gone before. Did Robert Burns know the hope given by the one who set us free from our past? To those of us who choose to take Jesus, God incarnate, into our hearts, His gift work on the cross setting us free, there is victory not  "nought".

Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:51-57