To Leave Your Childhood Home - winter

To leave your childhood home

that was our part of the family tree

is to give away an album of love

where I grew within its branches and leaves.

Lives lived with Christmas to mark our year,

setting up the tree

with carols spreading cheer.

Remember the days of sunshine

and long winter nights,

napping on the sofa

lit with Holiday lights?

Laughter and sorrow

were todays and tomorrows,

memories endearing,

always within my mind appearing.

To leave the childhood home

means the children have all grown.

Oak Tree, give your all - winter

My son's oak tree is practically perfect,

it’s arching arms reach to the sky –

bare bones in the winter

when leaves are gone and dry.

Yet this shows off its perfection

each branch grown as it should,

affirming life left up to God

is truly something good.

Planted back when just a boy,

a seedling brought from school,

it found its roots where it was planted

through pleasant spring and winter cruel.

Long stand this oak who shares its bounty

one acorn at a time,

it would be missed by those partaking

of it while in its prime.

So live the life that God intended,

as a testament to all descended

that young men grow

and trees stand tall

and never give up –

 til you’ve given your all.

Spring in the Spirit - winter

I can feel spring

though it’s not outside my door,

it’s living here inside me

as it has many times before.

Goodness makes the grass green,

while love warms like sunshine to fill my heart.

These are the gifts of His righteousness,

that only God imparts.

Joy springs out with the cardinals song

no matter how cold – they sing.

Peace is a patience – I’m being cared for

to listen to what God may bring.

Kindness is realizing I’m meant to be here

so that spring through His Spirit can always be near.