There’s a special place that I do recall
Quite a long time ago when I was small,
A large clapboard house on a country road
My great uncles built for their mom’s abode.
She’d been born in June eighteen-sixty-one
To a life one could guess was not much fun
At fifteen she married the stablehand
Oh, so far away in a foreign land.
This is a small part of their history
And the story of how they came to be,
As I look back on all the joys we shared
How grateful I am and how much I cared !
A man must be both wise and strong
To know his place and to belong
Into this scene of give and take
If one does choose his mark to make.
The world is wide, the river long
The heart is brave and sings a song
To praise the Lord and voice this plea
Oh Lord above, abide with me !
Sometimes there are those days that I
Wish I would grow two wings and fly
Then there are times I wish instead
That I could spend all day in bed.
I’m never sure which should come first
My quest for rest or traveler’s thirst
I guess I’ll settle for the dream
That I am more than what I seem.
I’m flesh and blood and caring heart
Awaiting God’s new world to start !
Let’s thank the Lord for many things
Like sun and rain and April springs
Including all the birds that sing
And trees that host most everything,
The fields and valleys lush with life
Trails cut through forests like a knife
A night time sky that glows so bright
With stars and comets in their flight,
We thank You Lord for all these things
And all the joy Your loving brings !
My heart is full, I cannot speak
My arms and legs are oh, so weak
I fear that life is passing by
I’ve no strength left to laugh or cry,
But try I shall and try I may
To hold on tight another day.
What else is there to keep me here
A taste of happiness or cheer,
The thought that God does love us all
And picks us up ere we may fall !
As crowds of angels raise their voices in prayer
May our Lord in heaven forever be there
May He bless us and keep us close by His side
And always remember with Him we’ll abide !
Light the candles and hold them high
Let sunlight enter from the sky
For in the dark one cannot see
That in the light our way is free !
Sometimes I think, when I do recall
All those precious days when I was small
I would grasp my mommy’s hand so tight
As we crossed the street without a light
We always walked close and side by side
Or shared the seat on a trolley ride.
We were such great pals she and I
While all of the years were passing by
And as those times seem to fly away
Appears we switched places on one day
It was she who took my hand to cross
And me who watched she did not get lost.
Those days are gone and I miss her much
And long for the warmth of her sweet touch
I wish I knew what I could have said
Before she passed and our friendship fled !
At times I feel that I cannot last
Until this current winter has passed
There are no plans that I wish to make
No celebrations or birthday cake
No special outings or travel plans
Or any trips to some foreign lands
I’d rather stay here close to my home
Then venture out or decide to roam.
Now as I trek to the local store
I may find just what I’m searching for
There is a chance if I’m very good
That somewhere near in my neighborhood
Perhaps one corner under some tree
Popping through snow as bold as can be
One tiny crocus will rear its head
Promising all that hope is not dead !
These winter days keep hanging on
I really thought the cold had gone
How disappointing that it’s not
I gave it all the push I’ve got
And so we’ll have to tough it out
Of this I’m sure, I have no doubt
That spring is knocking at the door
And brings the change we’re waiting for
Oh what a pleasure it will be
When we are all galoshes free !
This is a song small children sing
That I can’t help remembering
About how much we each are loved
By Jesus who resides above
A simple tune of honest word
The earliest I’ve ever heard
It rings so clearly in my head
The dearest words that can be said !
Oh how I love to hear the rain
It helps me feel so whole again
And when raindrops splash on my face
I think I could win any race.
I’m sure it’s best when all is mist
You feel as though you’re being kissed
Caressed by unseen angels there
Who show us each how much they care.
The rain is like the precious touch
Of all that’s gone we miss so much
I wish that I might just reach out
To give a hug, a squeeze, a shout,
Most rain reminds me what I’ve lost
My Lord You know the price it cost !
A little bird conversed with me
And offered me sweet sympathy
I’m sure he was a cheeky bird
Who whistled many happy words.
I couldn’t understand a one
But listening brought me such fun
He tweeted high, he tweeted low
His messages did stop and go.
Now he and I are on one page
We seem to share the self-same stage
It would be nice if we two could
Speak the same language as most should !
My heart has wandered ever long
To find out where it does belong
I’ve followed every path I knew
To search for love and comfort too
Alas I found no haven there
Just emptiness and sad despair.
I guess I’ll have to try again
My problem is I don’t know when
Perhaps tomorrow I’ll have luck
The trouble is I think I’m stuck
Between a rock and some hard place
Dear Lord, help me my fears to face.
So let’s not waste a minute more
It’s time to knock on God’s front door !
It looks like spring may soon be here
Is this good time for us to cheer
Do you think we should wait a bit
Until we’re sure that this is it ?
Perhaps we’ll take another day
Ere we pack our woolens away
Another job for us to do,
Remember get some mothballs too.
I do so hate motheaten holes
In sweaters, scarves or worsted hose
At least there’s this great joy in sight
Goodbye to every frosty night !
Please look outside, what do you see
Small groups of birds in every tree
That seem to be in ecstasy
Their happy sounds bring joy to me !
If only I could learn to fly
Like all these friendly passers-by
I’d join them on their branch so high
And praise the Lord up in the sky !
I feel the winds of change expand
They silent spread across the land
I sense the tremor in the trees
That shimmers in the morning breeze.
A pleasant peace now settles in
Inverse to all of life’s chagrin.
What is it I shall ask of God
Life that’s simple, and not too hard
True friendship based on moral core
With kindness, care and so much more
Let’s pray the Lord is always there
And guides us through with joy and care !
Dear Lord above, I love you so
So much I see, so much I know
I cannot wait until that day
When all our debts we must repay.
Though most may mourn or curse their fate
In truth with me, I cannot wait
There will be more that’s yet to come
God’s gift to grant or take from some.
The promise always has been there
Of love and peace and joy to share
The prophets promised long ago
We’ll only reap what we do sow !
Amazing word, how sweet it is
To love the Lord and to be His!
With all my strength I pray that He
Will never leave or forsake me
My sins forgive and love me true
There is no more I ask of You
And so this day I’ll ever keep
The promise made before I sleep,
And if it be I should not wake
I beg You Lord my soul please take !
Oh how I wish the world could know
Our God is everywhere we go
The air we breath, the sky of blue
The birds that fly and oceans too.
The wind that blows, the earth below
Fields that bloom and the trees that grow
The lakes and streams and rivers all
The valleys that do rise and fall,
Those creatures that dwell in the seas
And furnish food for all who please
This wond’rous world that fills our space
Reminds us all of God’s sweet grace !
If I could have a magic wand
Or star that I might wish upon
To make your dearest dream come true
Or create memories for you
Then I would chalk myself a win
And thank my God with an amen.
For that is what a mother does
And all she is or ever was
No matter what their age may be
Each child is still her sweet baby !
Our world about is full of sin
What kind of mess are we all in
I’d like to know how we got here
Too many people live in fear
This is not by the Lord’s design
When He’s in charge all will be fine.
Recall the walls of Jericho
Or Sodom and Gomorra’s woe,
The lions will lie down with lamb
Do you remember Isaac’s ram ?
It’s time to get right on the track
We need to take our futures back
We’ll say our prayers and sip the cup
Oh please, dear God, let’s hurry up !
The mornings come, the mornings go
From dawn through dusk and starlight show
The world we know is dying fast
This future now may be our last
For who can say what will come next
A ferv’rent prayer or holy text ?
The seeing eyes of God above
And unrelenting force of love,
I beg Him here on bended knees
Repair the hole in my heart, please !
Oh what a place this nation is
Full of vim, vigor, pep and whiz,
Like bottles of rare bubbly wine
From grapes of joy grown on the vine
Transformed to champagne in our lives
Granting all goodness that revives
Ask that one Special Force above
To bless us with unending love !
I thank you God for life is kind
There always is some good to find
Though painful days will sadness bring
Together with our suffering.
Sometimes we rise beyond the past
To find the calm we dream may last
For life is more than stuff or things
It’s full of joyous happenings
It’s peace and love, laughter and song
God’s world in which we all belong !
Tears on my face are nothing more
Than wishes I have hungered for
Like dreams that vanish with the dawn
Before each morn is newly born
It’s time to find some other ways
To help me through these trying days !
We have been friends so many years
We’ve shared the range of joy and fears
We laughed a lot, we also cried
As family and pals have died.
We toughened up and made a choice
We chose to heed the calmer voice
For this scant time we each have left
Perchance to guard against its theft
As all that we’ve been wishing for
May help us reach God’s exit door !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 