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.

Christmas, Joyeux Noel - 2016

Tiny little baby

wise men came to see;

held by His mother,

come from eternity…

A miracle for all the people

and redeemer for our souls,

not for a day,

but in every way

with the Father, made us whole.

Though the winds have howled

and the leaders scowled

the shepherds came to bow –

so for all our times,

as the year goes round,

let’s remember to welcome Him – now.

Grandfather's Village - winter

In grandfather’s village the people pass by

my large window on the living room side.

All bundled in blankets of clothing so snug

it’s as if the snow were giving a hug.

My sisters and I watch them pass

and then disappear through our looking glass.

Their feet raise not into car nor carriage

but stay firmly upon the ground.

The distance they cover from day to day

is measured by footsteps with barely a sound.

Buildings square with angled eves

provide safe shelter unconditionally.

In grandfather’s village as evening draws near,

we retire to the kitchen which lies to the rear

and wait for our father to return to the nest;

there’s warmth with his presence

as he comes home to rest.

At night the men come to light the lamps

that twinkle like stars when seen from afar

and everyone sleeps with a blanket of hush

that quiets the body and mind’s anxious rush.

Slumbering dreams bed down with the coals

not stirred until morning into flames and souls.

In grandfather’s village each day is its own;

each person – a family –and each one has a home.

We hold on to each other, and to God’s good grace

and wish that everyone could live in such a place.