Poppies lift, firm and separate!

http://www.legionshop.co.uk/shop/jewellery/poppy-jewellery/the-buckley-poppy-brooch.aspx

Isn't that lovely? I bought mine and am wearing it with pride. Exactly WHERE I  wore it yesterday it will be made clear in a moment.

Yesterday was graduation day. You would think I would be used to it by now, yesterday was my third, and although they have all been greatly different, this one came with the required outfit of academic gown, hat and hood. Thereby hangs a tale. I should know by now, as a regular wearer of an academic hood (mine is added to my clerical gowns for special occasions), that I would know how to fasten the thing on.

In preparation I wore a blouse with buttons. Correct. The blouse was made of flimsy material though and the hood began to slide down my back, lifting my blouse and threatening to cut off my circulation. It wasn't a pretty sight I can tell you. My better half was highly amused.

A kindly colleague gave me a tip.

'Fasten it to your bra with a pin' she said. Super idea... but where to find a suitable pin?

The only thing I had vaguely resembling a pin was my beautiful poppy brooch, carefully pinned to the outside of the gown. Off it came, and standing in the shadows of a rather grand town hall staircase, I managed to pin through blouse and bra and hold the hood down.

Immediate and marvellous effect. The threat of strangulation removed I stood tall. At least five feet two. My back straightened, my chin came up and I looked (but not felt as I had a steaming cold) ten years younger.

I discovered that the lift and separation of a poppy brooch bearing the weight of an academic hood rivals that of any other bosom upholstery. Lift and separation were mine, in abundance.

Eat your hearts out supermodels! I stood proud, in more ways than one, and took my place on the platform, safe in the knowledge that NOTHING was going to let me down.

You know, they didn't let us down, the ones we remember on Poppy Day. They held us up even unto their last breath. They didn't know us but they knew that we would come in the future and they died to protect that future for us. We live in now, this very moment, the future that they gave their lives for. Don't waste a second of it because it came at a great cost.

And, returning to a familiar theme, our lives and out eternal life are secured by another sacrifice, a life freely given that we might be forgiven and have, when our earthly time is over, everlasting life.

Dear Jesus, help us not to  waste a second of our lives.  We are lifted up before our God and we will never be separated from Him. Because of You.