The Gem of My Heart

On this date, 75 years ago, God joined together Frank Nickel and Eva Jantz in marriage. In commemoration of that union, which brought our family to be, we remember their marriage and honor their memory. 

First posted February 26, 2015












Bless the Lord, I have found you, the gem of my heart
to cherish and hold you till death do us part.
Bless the Lord for His providence year after year
keeping each for the other, how precious, my dear.

Bless the Lord, oh my soul for this wonderful day.
Bless the Lord, oh my soul that He sent you my way.
Bless the Lord, who in wonderful grace did impart
such a precious companion, the gem of my heart.

Bless the Lord for your hand and the light in your eyes,
life's testing and toil shall but strengthen our ties.
With Christ as our captain, united we'll stand,
through joys and temptations, we'll go hand in hand.

Bless the Lord, oh my soul for this wonderful day.
Bless the Lord, oh my soul that He sent you my way.
Bless the Lord, who in wonderful grace did impart
such a precious companion, the gem of my heart.

Excerpt of chorus only:





Written for Eva Nickel by Frank P. Nickel, on the occasion of their 25th Wedding Anniversary, Oct. 4, 1967.  This was originally published as a song and was sung at each child's wedding. For a copy of the music, please contact Joyce.




Photo credit: Family collection

The Entire Family of God

In a happy home, the children all are precious;
to the parents they’re like sweet peas in a pod.
So the Holy Spirit draws us all together;
how I love the entire family of God.

No, of course, we do not claim that we are perfect—
only as we’re now accepted in God’s Son;
but the world will know that we love one another
if we really love God, we will leave each one!

Yes, I know that we will disagree on some things.
We have not arrived, we’ve got so much to learn.
But we’re born again, and we can’t hate each other.
For the good of all the family we will yearn.

Chorus:
Oh, I love the entire family of God.
Yes, I love the precious family of God.
What a privilege to work and share together
How I love the entire family of God.

fpn/undated

This is written as a song, but the music has not yet been located. 

Picture: depositphotos.com #125899148, standard license

When the Last One Leaves

With university starting soon for some of our children, this is an appropriate time to repost this poem, originally posted January 28, 2014.









We knew that it was coming;
it has to be this way.
We’re back now where we started,
like on our wedding day.
Between that day and this oe,
we’ve journeyed by God’s grace;
as He increased our number
we ran a rigorous pace.

One son and then another,
born every other year
until they totaled seven;
just boys – but each was dear.
But then there was another,
this time a darling girl;
and talk about excitement!
Life really was a whirl.

Our house? Yes, we enlarged it;
(our bedrooms number six)
and now it seems so empty
as the clock profoundly ticks.
It seems like it is mocking
and says, “What will you do?
They’ve all got up and left you!”
It makes us sort of blue.

Almost forgot to tell you,
they’re not all married off.
The youngest two are single;
their time comes soon enough.
But they just left for college;
it’s much too far away –
Out in yon distant city –
Four hundred miles, I’d say.

Of course we still have “Snoopy,”
a canine – “Man’s best friend,”
so called by earthly standards;
we’ll keep her till her end.
And then, we have each other
to cherish and to hold.
And too, we have rich memories,
more valuable than gold.

The children all are active
at jobs and for the Lord.
That makes it so rewarding –
those years which went quite hard.
There’s one who now is missing;
a higher call he heard.
Two years ago he left us;
we’ve comfort in God’s word.

We have a sincere longing
that they may all succeed
as persons and as families;
their cause in prayer we’ll plead.
We do not ask for riches,
spelled out in earthly wealth,
but treasures great in heaven;
and Lord, please give them health!

We have a new perspective
inclined to view the past,
but no, the future becons;
press on, while life shall last!
Not stifled by past failures,
but cheered by God’s dear word,
we’ll live till heaven’s reunion,
for Jesus Christ, our Lord!

fpn/1976

Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #143392113, Standard license

The Greatest Test

A bonus post today, written by another poet, this is a favorite poem of Mrs. Nickel's, which she often quoted in family concerts. It was published with permission in "Sing and Give Thanks" as #12b.

The Greatest Test
by Barbara Ryberg

Lord, help me walk so close to Thee
That those who know me best can see
I live as godly as I pray
And Christ is real from day to day.

I see some once a day or year;
To them I blameless might appear.
It’s easy to be kind and sweet
To people whom we seldom meet.

But in my home are those who see
Too many times the worst of me.
My hymns of praise were best unsung
If He does not control my tongue.

When I am vexed and sorely tried
And my impatience cannot hide,
May no one stumble over me
Because Thy love they cannot see.

But give me, Lord, a life that sings
And victory over little things;
Give me thy calm for every fear,
Thy peace for every falling tear.

Make mine, O Lord, through calm and strife,
A gracious and unselfish life.
Help me with those who know me best,
For Jesus’ sake, to stand the test.



Picture: depositphotos.com #43252573, standard license

A Mother’s Qualifications

This week features poems in honor of mothers.











There’s more to being a mother
than having a child or two;
it takes a “heap of living”
and doing, to make it so.
In fact, a childless lady
may also qualify,
by care of other’s children
whose fate has gone awry.

One word stands in conjunction
with “mother”—it is “home.”
You cannot separate them—
the point of many a poem.
And mom’s the one who makes it
a sweet and tidy place;
without her touch it could not
reveal such charm and grace.

She doesn’t call it boredom—
those repetitious chores;
the cooking and the laundry
and cleaning of the floors.
The work is not what thrills her
but what she sees beyond:
it’s love for dad and children
that makes her calling fond.

We’re all too quick to grumble
and slow to lend a hand;
and how we take for granted
delicious meals she’s planned.
Though pained, she makes allowance
when her failures we berate;
now, don’t you agree we often
should say, “Hey, Mom, you’re great!”

fpn / undated



Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #71535455, standard license

On Loan From God

Alternate Title: "Earth's Family Cycle"

We take our infants in our arms.
No sacrifice, just joy!
And soon they take steps of their own –
our precious girls and boys.

They trust us so, and we in turn
don’t want to let them down
but we will fail, and they must learn
that God is God alone.

Reminded they’re just lent to us,
both for our joy and trust
and if we’d help them reach their goals,
show trust and hope we must.

Then comes the time to take hands off,
but heart-strings still hold fast;
and God keeps working, till one day
we’re satisfied at last.

They find their niche in this wide world
by grace of God above,
and that is what it’s all about:
when they express God’s love.

fpn 12/80

Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #8995377, standard license

When the Last One Leaves

We knew that it was coming. It has to be this way.

We're back now where we started, like on our wedding day.

Between that day and this one we've journeyed by God's grace.

As He increased our number, we ran a rigorous pace.

One son and then another born every other year

until they totaled seven. Just boys, but each was dear.

But then there was another; this time a darling girl;

and talk about excitement! Life really was a whirl.

Our house? Yes, we enlarged it. Our bedrooms number six.

But now it seems so empt as the clock profoundly ticks.

It seems that it is mocking, and says, "What will you do?"

"They've all got up and left you." It makes us sort of blue.

Almost forgot to tell you, they're not all married off;

The youngest two are single, their time comes soon enough.

But they just left for college. It's much too far away

out in yon distant city, four hundred miles, I'd say.

Of course we still have Snoopy. A canine - Man's Best Friend.

So called by earthly standards, we'll keep her till her end.

And then we have each other to cherish and to hold.

And too, we have rich memories more valuable than gold.

The children all are active at jobs and for the Lord.

That makes it so rewarding, those years which went quite hard.

There's one now who is missing. A higher call he heard.

Two years ago he left us. We've comfort in God's word.

We have a sincere longing that they may all succeed

As persons and as families. Their cause in prayer we'll plead.

We do not ask for riches spelled out in earthly wealth;

But treasures great in heaven, and Lord, please give them health!

We have a new perspective, inclined to view the past.

But no, the future beckons. Press on while life shall last!

Not stifled by past failures but cheered by God's dear word

We'll live till heaven's reunion for Jesus Christ, our Lord.

fpn / 1976