Just One Little Seed: A Poetry Collection and Story About Grief, Hope and Restoration

By Annette Peterson and Joseph Peterson

This book was borne out of the heart of a dad grieving the deep loss of his oldest daughter. Diagnosed with cancer at just 8 years old, God welcomed a unique and vibrant 9 year old, Malia Grace, into heaven on December 7, 2010. In the many months that followed Joseph found expression of his hurt, renewing of his faith, and peace in the process by putting his pain to paper. His simplistic and free flowing poetic style reveals glimpses of the profound truths he encountered on this life journey. As you explore the pages that follow, I believe you will discover a story offering hope for the hopeless, joy found in the midst of pain, and peace for times of chaos. Ultimately, it is the story of Gods great love for each of us, and his rescuing of us from the deep places of darkness life often holds. We pray your own soul finds ultimate healing as you read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781449789275

Annette Peterson

Joe and Annette live in Minnesota, have been married for 18 years and have three children. Joe is a stay at home dad while Annette has been a RN for 14 years. Joe wrote poetry in college and came back to writing it once more when his daughter Malia was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Annette took creative writing classes in college. Both Joe and Annette have been on mission’s trips and have a heart to reach others for Christ.

Book preview

Contents

Forward for Just One Little Seed

Part 1

A Beginning

God Grew Me Flowers

Play

Forever Your Hero

I Pray

Fight

God’s Love Foretold

GRACE

Hearts Touch

These Last Words

This Picture Of Me

Favorite Things

Peanut’s Melody

Another Day

From Her to Me

In Jesus I Believe

God’s Promise

Take What Is Broken

Yours Always

Know No

Where Is Your Victory

A Grave’s Not The End

Malia’s Garden

I Hear A Whisper

Just Let Him Take Over

Kiss And Hug My Girl Today

Your Heavenly Home

Though In Two Places

Section 2

Redemption

Life Storms

The Answer I Looked For

Tree You Died

JESUS

He’s Everything

On Wings He Flies

The Voice Of An Old Friend

Please Don’t Give Up

Tonight You’re With Me

What Some Discard

Transfused

Savior

There’s This Moment I Know

Lion And Lamb

Freedom

A Forever Friend

Let Him Have The Keys

Will You Know Me

I Am Who I Am

Sweet Peace

Heaven’s Key You Will See

He Makes The Heart Sing

Sing

Part 3

Seasons

Winter’s Whitewash

Why Heaven Came To Earth

Christmas Lights

Mother And Child

Christmas

God’s Own Balm

That Time Of Season

Each Day Has Its Dawn

Awakened

New Life’s Pulse

Beauty’s Calling

Horizon’s Lullaby

New Day’s Born

As Sunlight Shows

In God’s Grace

What Our God Meant

Part 4

Our Prayer

Just One Little Seed

Sometimes

Prize Fighter

Through Gems By Me

Like A Rockabilly Song

The Next Hello

So Let’s Depart

My Prayer

Acknowledgements

About the Authors

Forward for Just One Little Seed

By Joseph Peterson

This book was borne out of the heart of a dad grieving the deep loss of his oldest daughter. Diagnosed with cancer at just 8 years old, God welcomed a unique and vibrant 9 year old, Malia Grace, into heaven on December 7, 2010. In the many months that followed Joseph found expression of his hurt, renewing of his faith, and peace in the process by putting his pain to paper. His simplistic and free flowing poetic style reveals glimpses of the profound truths he encountered on this life journey. As you explore the pages that follow, I believe you will discover a story offering hope for the hopeless, joy found in the midst of pain, and peace for times of chaos. Ultimately, it is the story of God’s great love for each of us, and his rescuing of us from the deep places of darkness life often holds. We pray your own soul finds ultimate healing as you read.

~ Annette (wife of this most gifted poet, and mom to our 3 beautiful blessings)

Part 1

A Beginning

Our story began like many do. A couple of flirting teens met at a camp one June morning and a silly crush grew steadily into deep seeded love. The summer after we started dating, Joe asked God for a sign. He needed to know if I was truly the one for him, and if God would bless a lifelong relationship with me. The next morning he woke to his family lakeshore filled with small yellow flowers. They had never grown there before, nor since, and his flowing tears testified to the gratitude to God he