The little babe with smile so sweet
Whose tiny hands and wiggly feet
Are perfect as they move about
Is pure within and snuggly out !
Imagine what the years may bring
Dreams and hopes are just beginning
But it could take a bit more time
Before each child begins his climb.
Let’s beg that God will be right there
To guide him and to hear his prayer,
Do not forget him as he grows
Life’s hard enough all heaven knows !
I’d love to skip down to the sea
With salty air caressing me
The shifting sands under my feet
Were soft and warm and wet and sweet !
There was a day when I could run
Along that beach under the sun
Though age and time have had their price
Reclaiming youth would be quite nice !
It’s hard to keep my balance now
I try and try and wonder how
If there’s a way I might restore
My strength to where it was before !
But you and I are realists
We know these acts do not exist
And as our lives are winding down
Let no one dare embrace a frown !
I know dear Lord, You walk with me
Into the wind or by the sea
Along the path that winds around
The village square, the heart of town.
While children play and students learn
The flowers bloom and seasons turn
As summer’s heat begins to rise
The night displays clear sparkling skies !
Oh what a sight our hearts have seen
With good and bad laced in-between
A glowing hope that God forgives
Our weakness where tradition lives !
Sometimes dear Lord, the hour grows late
Time seems to pass beyond life’s gate
One’s entrance there can be denied
It matters not how hard you tried !
Appearing now inopportune
Depends upon how late or soon
The roots are sunk into the ground
Where permanence is to be found.
For God alone controls the space
He knows how each has run the race
You win or lose by your deport
With word and deed and inner thought !
EXCUSE ME while I share ! Over 65 years ago someone shared the following
poem with me when my father died after a 9 year battle with brain cancer. I
have been sharing this piece by James Whitcomb Riley since (less 12 lines) :
I cannot say and I will not say
That he is dead, he is just away
With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand
He has wandered into an unknown land
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be since he lingers there.
And you, oh you who the wildest yearn
For the old time step and the glad return.
Think of him faring on as dear
In the love of there as the love of here
Think of him still as the same I say
He is not gone he is just away.
Sincerely, Claire B.
When but a girl I lost my dad
I could not know the gift I had
I watched occasions pass me by
All those precious years time did fly.
Days that he didn’t hold my hand
When my achievements turned out grand
No one there to cushion my fall
And walks we never took at all,
Especially down that long aisle
When dad and daughter cry and smile,
And here am I at my trails end
Still missing him, my next best friend !
The stalwart stag upon the hill
Waits there erect and rigid still
His antlers splayed and elegant
While seeming made of olifant.
This noble beast impresses me
He does not flinch nor will he flee
His heart beats hard and flutters fast
He rules the streams and forests vast.
A simple creature God has wrought
With strength and courage as he ought
He roams this land that once was free
Lost symbol of security !
Another day dawns full of light
To breach the stillness of the night
Under the clouds of starry sky
While angels weep and brave men cry.
Pray for silence of noise and din
Our worlds are suffering within
What words have I to offer you,
Oh Lord of all, this can’t be true !
What evil deeds are flung about
By those who claim to be devout
If this is life for fellow man
There’s no escape, no other plan !
The remnants of my former styles
Surround me here in glaring piles
Why can’t I just discard the mess
I really tried I must confess !
Possessions are more earthly stuff
By now you’d think I’d had enough
But somewhere in the distant past
I’m sure it helped the memories last.
The time has come without delay
To clean the house, pack ghosts away
Face life head on, emotions tossed
Reach out for God ere all is lost !
There are those dreams we’ve left behind
That in our lives true faith we’d find
Seems fate would have no part of this
Denying us our sacred bliss.
We’re sure that this hypocrisy
Is part of life’s vast mystery
That only God will understand
Because He gave us this command.
How sad that we have gone astray
What arrogance do we display
Discarding rules to take a stand
Negating God’s own master plan !
In the hours before the breaking of dawn
The time when stars take a moment to yawn
Just before the sun rises o’er the hill
The leaves in the trees are ever so still.
It’s the quiet that sighs passing us by
Leaving us wishing we knew how to fly
The clouds in the sky seem to beckon me
Calling my name just as though I were free.
My freedom has strings you know what that means
The one place to fly is left in my dreams !
We do not know what our lifetimes may hold
We can only wish that it’s courage bold
For that is what we all need to receive
If we have dreams that our hopes won’t achieve.
We have wandered lost and lonely too long
In a world void of peace, laughter or song
The problem appears we can’t find our way
And need God’s guidance to help save the day !
I have searched in vain for a special place
In which to occasion my last embrace
In my mind remains, after many years
How my dear grandma shed her final tears !
Her words to me I shall never forget
As she said her goodbyes with no regret
Though but a child I remember her still
And I love her now and forever will !
In truth, I haven’t forgotten her face
Or the strength of her courage, help and grace
For the child I was, she taught me to be
Honest and fair giving, loving and free,
She spoke with her God day and night
Was angelic in her apron starched white
She lived in that house I’ve told you about
No running water and toilet without.
She left her heart and her dreams behind
And whispered her secret that I might find
Whatever I prayed for would come to be
Especially God keeping watch o’er me !
( SHE JOINED THE ANGELS 7/20/1936 )
The time has come, the time has gone
The time is now to voice alarm
Our world has changed make no mistake
No time is left to catch a break.
The days grow short, I fear the count
With each new moon the totals mount.
When will the clock that ticks away
The hours and minutes of each day
Declare that life is just pretend
And moving closer to its end ?
I do not know, I wonder why
Can it be worth another try ?
Oh Lord, walk with me, we’ll go hand in hand
Across that sad beach in some foreign land
Our journey is swift, return we may not
But that long ago day can’t be forgot.
While the time fades away into the past
The lesson we learned is one that won’t last
Just turn around to observe where we are
Sadly you’ll see that we haven’t come far !
The wheel is spinning round and round
Where will my happiness be found
The wheel is turning, see it go
When will it end, how do I know ?
God is my partner all my life
Through all the joy and all the strife
In time of peace or in distress
I owe Him all that I possess !
My heart recalls what used to be
And tugs on strings to set me free
Those days embraced so long ago
Remember love’s sweet afterglow.
While passions bound to yesterday
Whose memories have lost their way
Are moments that we cannot find
No matter how we chance rewind.
A breeze that drifts across the room
And harbors dreams that will not bloom
Are shadows of an old affair
That time alone may lose or share.
The wind that rushes through the trees
May saunter with the ocean’s breeze
And lift the waves upon the seas
Or flutter flakes before the freeze.
The wings of birds that urgent fly
Across the currents of the sky
May reach so far and aim so high
Suggesting time is rushing by.
The sand that scatters on the beach
Reminds us what is out of reach
Those lessons learned one cannot teach
Pray God will not our faith impeach.
It’s true, joy comes in every size
As part of life in which surprise
Makes our existence so worthwhile
And merits us with loving smile.
We’ve known a few with lives quite sad
To hear them laugh makes us feel glad
It takes scarce more to bring them care
With us to work and help and share !
Oh my soul, I have fear my heart will break
Oft life takes a toll or makes some mistake
There must be a path one will seek to find
To help bring some peace and a calm of mind.
In days to come one must learn how to grow
There are hopes and plans one may need to show
Like a garden unkempt choking in weeds
Needing great care and some water and seeds.
It’s a casual thought beginning now
Importance depends on our learning how
To implement life here along the way
No matter how short or long is the stay !
The early sun that filters through the window blind
Brings welcome warmth into the room where dreams unwind
Its fingers undulating all across the spread
So careless thrown upon the length of my small bed.
I’ve often thought God’s greatest gift must be the sun
It is the reason life exists for everyone
Another facet of nature’s vast mysteries
That rise beyond the heart and mind that knows and sees !
Whilst have I seen my heart take wings
To sail upon a draught that sings
A song of love when twilight clings
That to my soul contentment brings.
Listen closely and you will hear
Wind whispering into your ear
Its breathy voice echoing clear
Wake up, wake up the summer’s near !
When will these endless wars be done
So man may freely greet the sun
And close his eyes in peace each night
Assured he’ll wake to morning light ?
The simple truth is we can’t wait
The time grows short the hour late
And anger that bursts into flame
Claiming to be in God’s own name
Is truly Satan’s fight to live
Beyond the scope God will forgive !
The time is near, it soon will die
What can we do to speed goodbye ?
The angels sing their voices raised
To laud our God and spread His praise
While common folk like you and me
Are asked to join their ecstasy !
The joyous words with hope resound
To share the news peace will be found
And pray that we’re not left behind
When God collects His humankind !
I have never cried so many tears
In the length and breadth of all my years
As I did then in that foreign land
On the heights above a beach of sand.
Ten thousand crosses rise in your sight
Lustrous shining in days brilliant light
Row upon row where the eye may fall
Each one had answered his country’s call.
It’s a sacred place you can’t forget
The sight of which will share deep regret
We haven’t learned how to really live
In God’s world of peace, pray and forgive !
Oh, little star up in the sky
You shine so bright please tell me why
This vigil which you silent keep
That watches o’er me in my sleep
Is like some vast and hidden eye
In outer space are you God’s spy ?
Oh, how much fun that job must be
Shining through His infinity !
The soldier stands both straight and tall
He answered when his nation called
He put his dreams upon the shelf
And vowed to give both life and self.
He left his home, he went away
To learn to fight and save the day
His job was not to question why
But follow orders do or die,
And so he did and here we are
Upon the wall a golden star !
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
Claire V. Bogdanos 