Roses are red…

We have a great tradition for birthdays at our house. Every year when a family member has a birthday, we make little signs and hang them all over the house in the evening after they’ve gone to bed. That way when they wake up on their birthday morning, they’re greeted by signs that exclaim, “What day is it today?” or “I can’t believe you’re one year older!” – things to that effect.

For years now I’ve been writing a “Roses are Red” poem for Karen each birthday as a part of her sign collection. It’s my yearly challenge to capture my feelings for Karen in simple verse. It always has a humorous touch, but some years the thoughts are more serious than others.

This year’s verse captures something of what is going on in both of our hearts. I asked Karen’s permission to share it in this context and she cheerfully agreed. So here’s Karen’s birthday poem for 2011:

Roses are red
Violets stay true
This birthday of yours
Came out of the blue.

Wasn’t it yesterday
You celebrated five-O?
Five years in a minute…
It seems to me so.

Now these 5 years have changed us
Some things have been jarring
We’re a little uncertain
Of the role that we star in.

It’s a new life, new place
New battle, new glory
New people, new challenge
New adventure, new story.

What gives me great hope
And my courage doth raise
Is to know we’re together
Till the end of our days.

Our story is one
That we write together
And we both know that means
That our story is better.

For God uses couples
In the power of three,
That marvelous threesome
Of God, you and me (pardon the grammar)

Back when we started
This story of us
We were young and naïve
But we got on the bus

Because we knew that the driver
Could be trusted utmostly
Even on journeys
When the pathway was ghostly.

That trust has been proven
To stand and to stay
Even when rocks are shaking
And the mountains give way.

I am always amazed
At your faith and your grace
You make me stronger
You help pick up the pace.

Your courage is great
Your confidence strong
You’re hopeful in trouble
Your suffering is long.

You’re the best I could wish for
You’re the partner I prayed for
You’re the love who I live for
You’re the wife I would die for.

So on this, your birthday
Please know that you’re cherished
It’s my joy to stand with you
Until the day our God takes us.