Parenthood – Al's Painting and Poetry

Marriage, the miracle of separate beings becoming one

Forty-two years ago, this month, a miracle began in my life. A lovely, intelligent, and gifted young lady became my wife. Just prior to our wedding, I wrote the following poem called the Treasure Chamber.

The Treasure Chamber
By Al Vester

The ruddy glow of life ran from the ruby walls
Into the swirling darkness of the outer entrance hall.
A tune is singing softly, a pure and simple call,
To beckon someone worthy to come within the hall.

Come, behold the treasures earned by years of work
Of faith, integrity, honor, and courage not to shirk.
For within this ruby hall with ivory beams over-bending,
Resides a heart that’s filled with hope, a soul that needs befriending.

Come my bride, my joy and life, open doors to exaltation;
Come within and be my wife by a priesthood coronation.
God’s the one who lit this chamber, built its throne and made its treasure.
All that’s good is His and mine, and now through Him it shall be thine.

Why choose marriage?

It always seems miraculous to me that women can and do put up with men. Most women are softer, gentler, and more emotionally connected with the world around us. Continue reading “Marriage, the miracle of separate beings becoming one”

What Is Your Family Heritage?

Years ago, as we moved in to a new house and lacked furniture for all the empty spaces, we put plants in one corner. Included in the arrangement were a wood sculpture of a crane by my father and a ceramic pot created by my son. My painting linked the creations of three generations in the light of a summer morning.

The Green Corner
By Al Vester

Calmly crane and pot do sit
Revealing now our family’s wit
The crane by Dad, the pot by son
Loving gifts which they have done.
Now among the plants they fit
And to that verdant clasp submit.

Where fish remind us of the fun
Of swims beneath a tropic sun,
Those woven palms, shaped with skill,
Remind us of those travels still
Then bring us back, where we’ve begun,
To this corner set in slanting sun.

Sunrise lights the distant hills
Spilling hope through window sills,
Then and now are closely knit
As past achievements now are lit,
Our prayers ascend up that His will
Does smile upon our beings still,
And grants us power by His might
To welcome life in morning’s light.

Family Heritages

Every generation builds their accomplishments upon the works of previous generations. Countless of prior generations have left the current generation a legacy of language, art, science and a host of inventions ranging from toothbrushes to rockets capable of carrying men to the moon. Continue reading “What Is Your Family Heritage?”

Are Women truly equal to men?

A friend once asked for a portrait to be made from a small photo taken forty-four years earlier. It was a photo of his wife when he first met her. Years later this was how he still thought of her on her 62nd birthday, the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

So often in life women are busy with a multitude of tasks that keep families fed, clothed, and functioning. Many have very responsible positions in society, but most have the continuous responsibilities involved in raising families. Without the influence of women in our societies, families would fall apart and cease to exist. The following poem is in honor of these sweet heroes of a strong society.

Gentle Gifts
By Al Vester
I dreamt I saw a shining creek
Which she did cross on dainty feet
Quickly hopping from rock to rock,
Never daring to pause or stop
To see the bobbing elfin fleet
Of golden leaves beside the peat.
The dream’s too true, I’m sad to say,
For she does hop from day to day,
Failing still to pause or stop
To see what fleeing time has brought,
Those gentle gifts so bright and gay,
The precious thoughts that come her way.

Womanhood

More than a year ago, a convocation was held in the Vatican about the importance of families and marriage. One of the quotes that was read during this convocation is as follows: Continue reading “Are Women truly equal to men?”