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Poetry Lillian Carol Russell
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Contact me for reprint request or comments. Inspirational emails sent to those who request to be added to my (non-profit) Inspirationals mailing list.
I have attempted to put poems in alphabetical order.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
I’m glad we have each other, you are my dearest friend,
And we’ll be there for each other no matter the shape we are in.
I get misty-eyed looking back through the years,
Some of the changes have brought so many tears.
We’ve learned a lot in all our years of living;
You can’t get love back without a constant giving.
We’ve made mistakes that fill us with regret,
But experience is the best education you can get.
Sometimes the lessons of life are hard,
But every burden is lighter when walking with the Lord.
There is a little sadness at the death of youth,
But only by growing can one learn wisdom and truth.
It’s a bittersweet time a little past middle age,
Laughing and crying as life turns each page.
A Mother's Prayer
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Now I lay me down to rest,
The day for me was truly blessed.
I fixed breakfast for the children to eat,
Watched them smear it from head to feet.
I sent them out of doors to play,
This for me was mopping day.
I listened to their shouts of laughter,
They caught the frog that they were after.
God thank you for this little boy, the image of his dad,
Thank you for the joy we've shared and all the fun we've had.
Thank you for our daughter a beautiful little girl,
Protect them both dear God I pray,
As they grow up and face the world.
Guide me as a parent to teach them faith and love,
And guide me that I might guide them to a home in heaven above.
A Squeak and a Clickity Clack
By: Lillian Carol Russell
On Grandma Wright's porch was a rocking chair,
Where we kids were rocked with loving care.
It was wooden and old and how it did squeak,
At nap time this comforting sound I did seek.
I'd crawl in the lap of any who would,
Rock me to sleep, oh the feeling was good.
I'd stick my arm through the slats in the back,
And drift off to dream land with a squeak and a clickity clack.
Her front yard im memory I can still see,
Shaded so well by that old Tong-Oil Tree.
Many's the nap that I took in that old chair,
Before I was bothered with worry or care.
Strange how the sound of a chair that makes noise,
Can bring back a memory of childhood joys.
I thank God for my rocking chair,
And sweet grandbabies to hold with loving care.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
For the first time in history we watch in a land so far away,
The reality of war on display.
The soldiers, some mere children it seems,
Lives yet unlived hearts with unfulfilled dreams
.
They’ve left their children and wives and fathers and mothers,
And marched off to war to protect their brothers.
We watch them on the battlefield with so much pride; America’s finest, it can not be denied.
Some marched away as children to protect this motherland, But will return as full-grown woman, full-grown man.
They will see horrors that they never will forget,
The battle is for freedom and the plan is set.
A madman, Saddam so filled with hate,
Would destroy if he could this country of America so great.
I sometimes blink back tears to see,
The scenes of horror unfolding on TV.
Another soldier died while yet so young,
Another flag draped casket another story left unsung.
We pray that no more will pay that ultimate sacrifice, Freedom comes with an awful price.
September eleventh we all felt the pain,
We can never let that evil happen again.
America at war, the time has come, it has to be,
God bless our troops and keep our land forever free.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
Watch her there at play,
Holding her doll in a loving way.
God gives every little girl a mother’s heart,
While very young she begins to play the part.
She’ll practice on dolly what she learns from you,
You must teach her early what is good and what is true.
Like a vapor her childhood soon will be past,
And the baby in her arms will be real at last.
She’ll learn much of sorrow, happiness and strife,
While nurturing God’s gift of a new little life.
She’ll suffer every pain the child goes though,
And she’ll love them as only a mother can do.
Them all too soon will come the day,
When she opens the door and walks away.
Then once more the cycle will start,
A new baby girl, born with a mother’s heart.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Spellbound by the pictures of horror on TV, I blink back salty tears,
Never have I seen such pain in all my many years.
We are America, land of the brave and home of the free,
I look upon this thing and ask how can it be?
My heart says, "Oh God, so much torment and pain,
How can we bear the loss and can we build again?"
God said to me, "My child, I am so sorry that this had to be,
But your nation has turned it's back on me?"
You took prayers out of all the schools,
And neglected to teach the children of my rules.
You live together out of wed-lock, you kill my babies yet unborn,
And now the price you pay is a nation with it's heart all torn.
You know a disobedient nation I can not bless,
You must turn to me again to restore peace and happiness.
I thought, "Oh God, the thing was horrible to see,
And then He reminded me of the sight of His son nailed to a tree.
"I gave you my written word," He said,
"But you did not all believe it, now thousands are dead."
So sad, I thought, that we would not hear and read and see,
It took the death of thousands to bring this nation to it's knee.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
God has appointed us each a time to die,
It's an appointment we all will keep by and by.
None of us know the hour or the day,
Whether we'll be sleeping or at work or at play.
You should not put off until tomorrow accepting salvation's plan,
The debt has already been paid for the sin of man.
The cost was high, blood was shed,
They nailed Jesus to a cross and the son of God was Dead.
And all the sin that there ever would be,
Was placed upon Him as he hung from that tree.
After three days He rose for you and I,
Yet some will not accept this precious gift, I know not why.
Some do not go to church as He commanded that we should, some go through life choosing evil over good.
It will be too late then but every knee shall bow,
Believe receive and accept Him now.
Put it off until tomorrow and it may just be too late, Could be your time to die's today and hell would be your fate.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
An afternoon nap, a moment to rest,
I must be getting old, I seldom feel my best.
Many things I did before, it all was so much fun,
Now even things I need to do are often left undone.
I really do procrastinate, so often do I say,
Why bother now, this chore will surely wait another day.
An angel kissed my face while I lay in slumber there,
It felt like lips of velvet, that came out of the air.
I wiped the slumber from my eyes, so that I could see,
The form the angel took, that was so gently kisssing me.
My grandson Christian, stood there on the rug,
His arms outstretched, waiting for a hug.
A little bit of heaven was mine that day,
I hugged him so tightly, and then got up to play.
No better way to wake up than this,
By the gentle touch of an angel kiss.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
While in the attic going through grandma's treasure chest, He found the picture of his grandpa who long ago had gone to rest.
A soldier young and handsome, grandpa had gone to war so far away,
And all that grandma had left was the picture taken on that long ago day.
He'd left her and the children it was the way it had to be, If he did not fight for freedom, someday they might not be free.
He put on grandpa's jacket and though it did not fit,
It felt just like a hug from grandpa wrapped up inside of it.
He saluted the picture of the man he never knew,
The man who gave his life, a hero brave and true.
Just one story of a family's broken heart,
Because the cruelty of war had torn grandma and grandpa apart.
There are millions who weep and mourn,
Who's lives by war have been broken and torn.
Remember please as you take time to pray,
Ask God to be with all our soldiers and their families both near and far away.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
A valentine for all the world to span down through all time, was The heart that God, through Jesus gave, the heart of love sublime.
The heart that beat within the body that bore the pain, the heart That let itself be still, that I might heaven gain.
The heart that pumped the blood that flowed and dripped from Calvary's cross, that everyone who claims this blood be saved, none need be lost.
The heart that breaks when we turn away, putting off salvation until another day.
I thank God for His infinite love for all he's done for me, for His love that lives beyond all time through all eternity.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Not a sign of a cloud in the sky today,
The breeze is cool that blows my way.
The trees look so sad I could almost cry,
As they reach their bare arms to the bright blue sky.
Around my feet the leaves lie dead,
No lovely colors of green, gold or red.
Soon the air will lose it's chill,
Once more to spring our hearts will thrill.
The flowers will bloom, the grass will grow,
Once more earth will begin the greatest show.
Winter like death is a cold lonely thing,
It would be unbearable without the promise of spring.
My life would be the same if I didn't know,
That my Savior has prepared a place for me to go.
More beautiful is heaven than the rarest bloom is spring,
And heaven shall be mine after life's brief fling.
Because Jesus, shed His Blood and bore my pain,
After the winter of my life, heaven shall be my gain.
No death, no sickness, no tears will I shed there,
To the beauty of heaven, not even spring can compare.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
It had seemed that morning that time just would not pass away,
I was so excited this was my wedding day.
Getting ready with excitement in the air,
The house was filled with cousins everywhere.
My dad was so fragile for almost three weeks to the day,
A saw mill accident had torn his hand away.
Walking down the isle I saw him standing there, the one I’d Always loved tall and thin with blonde hair.
Daddy walked beside me that day,
Though drained of strength he gave me away.
I was about to begin a whole new life,
At age nineteen I became a wife.
The joy we have shared and all the pleasure,
The love of my life has been my dearest treasure.
There have been hard times some tears, some pain,
But given the choice I would do it all again.
I will never again fit into a size nine,
And thin no longer describes that man of mine.
We’ve come this far though the road was sometimes bumpy, And we still love each other even if we’re old and lumpy.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
I sit here now tears streaming down my face,
Without the children here this is a lonely place.
Their visit seemed so short, the days so swiftly flew,
As the days of my life now seem to do.
I kissed each little tear stained face,
As we buckled their seat belts and sat them in their place.
Their warm moist tears still cling to my cheek,
It’s good to be alone right now, I have no words to speak.
Three little bundles of laughter and sunshine that brightened my day,
They’ve loaded up their toys and clothes and once more drove away.
There’s scribble of crayon in the hall,
Where baby Dominique redecorated my wall.
The green squiggles are reminders of her and so they will remain,
Until I find the strength of mind to clean my walls again.
I’m sitting at my computer now where Christian sat each day,
It will be hard to smile for a while now that the children are away.
As I try to write, each time I press each key,
Flashes of my grandson play across my memory.
This time it was easier for him to go away,
He hardly shed a tear, he has friends that are waiting to play.
Laura was crying and begging, "I don’t want to go back to Texas, please let me stay here!"
The sound of her sobs are still ringing in my ear.
This morning I rocked the baby and held her in her sleep, I’ll never see that baby again cause babies just don’t keep.
She’s growing so fast she’ll soon be two,
What a joy to watch her learn, the world to her brand new.
I’ll talk to them on the telephone but it’s just not the same,
My heart lies crumbled in pieces but I’m oh so glad they came!
When we are young it seems that life will always be the same with loved ones near,
And I guess I thought back then there would always be joy and cheer.
Now that I am older I’ve come to know,
The changes and the losses that come as the years so swiftly go.
Grab on to each sweet moment and hold it fast,
Time is a vapor and childhood doesn’t last.
It’s no wonder that grandparents spoil children so,
They know just how fast a lifetime can go.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
September came and sang her song then gently slipped away, Fall is now upon us and shorter grows the day.
With great anticipation I wait for leaves to turn,
For fresher cooler breezes now I truly yearn.
So swiftly go the seasons, now they seem to fly,
And I’m closer to the Master as I watch each one go by.
Another day, another week, another month, another year, Another season passes my redemption draweth near.
Be it death or be it rapture, when I reach the other side, No pain, no death, no sorrow, Lord I’ll be so satisfied.
So come quickly one more season, swiftly come and swiftly go,
Autumn show your beauty, let the cooling breezes blow.
The changing of the seasons, it’s a wondrous thing to see, Draw me nearer, draw me nearer, my precious Lord to Thee.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
Sour milk on the shoulder of my best Sunday dress,
Dirty diapers, sticky lolly-pops, oh what a mess.
Walking the floor, up all through the night,
Rocking sick babies 'til dawns early light.
More than once I said, "Will they ever grow up?",
Now that they have it's a bitter-sweet cup.
I still love them my girl and my boy,
But I miss the sweet children that once brought me joy.
Babies don't keep, I heard it in a song,
No chance to do it over, we'd best not get it wrong.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Time like a soldier marches on, I’ve seen so many changes in the days that have flown.
I am the prisoner it has taken along the way,
Scars of the battle show more clearly everyday.
In youth I knew no fear,
I marched right into life and never even wondered if danger might be near.
Today I will not even climb upon a chair,
I could really be hurt if I fell from there.
I remember long lazy walks in the woods when I was no more than a child of ten,
Everything of God’s creation filled me with so much wonder then.
I sat by a babbling brook and watched a tiny waterfall,
I wasn’t in a hurry and took time to enjoy it all.
The years rushed by and oh so busy I became,
The world was out there waiting, I thought for me to tame.
Somewhere along the way I forgot to smell the roses,
And lost touch with all the beauty that is just beyond our noses.
Now battle scared with age I am as before, Amazed by the wonders of God even more.
Whether it be a falling snowflake or the wind in the trees, I’ll take the time to listen to the music in the breeze.
God never changes, it is we who do,
We rush through life and never stop to think it through.
He is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow,
And He will see us to the other side of all our pain and sorrow.
So trusting in Jesus, like an old soldier I march on,
And when life’s battle is finally over all my aches and pains and all my sorrows will be gone.
Although the road we travel may be filled with pain and woe,
These things although they hurt us are the things that make us grow.
Praise God for whatever, sun or rain or snow flakes,
For whatever in life happens, He makes no mistakes.
by; Lillian Carol Russell
Winter's icy chill has turned the great plains from green to sun-kissed gold,
Deserted cabins here and there are ghostly reminders of days of old.
Many settlers passed this way,
Headed west in some long forgotten yesterday.
No golden arches did they find,
No fast food or convenience of any kind.
How many must have died along the way,
Blazing the trails we travel today.
With horse and buggy they set out to find,
A different life of a better kind.
As I travel the long black ribbon of highway clouds blot out the Texas sun,
I find myself wondering along the way how the west was ever won.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Life isn’t always easy, some friends are lost along the way,
Some are faded memories, lost with yesterday.
The clock of life keeps ticking, changing all the while,
Some days are filled with tears,
Others you greet with a smile.
If I place my heart in a box, to protect it from hurt and harm,
It will grow cold and die,for a heart must be kept warm.
The bumps in life are painful, but I guess it should be known,
Although they are rough, we use them to climb,
They teach us that we must hold on.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
(Since writing this so many years ago, I have discovered that being a grandmother is one of the greatest joys I’ve known. What a blessing to be able to spend time with my grandchildren and teach them and love them without being in a rush as it was in the days of my youth.)
It seems so long ago and far away,
That I watched my little children play.
Our son with hair so blonde and eyes of blue,
The image of his dad, ‘twas true.
The most precious daughter of any,
With hair the color of a new copper penny.
With boundless energy they grew so fast;
The mold was made, the die was cast.
If only I could only go back in time,
To the days of diaper and nursery rhyme.
Each moment I’d savor more precious than gold,
In my arms once more those babies to hold.
Perhaps a better parent I would be,
As I bounced each one upon my knee?
But only God can see through time and space
And know the end before the beginning takes place.
And so with youthful abandon I let moments slip away,
Thinking they’d be children forever and a day.
Young parent listen and hear me well,
These words of wisdom that I tell:
Savor each moment and hold it fast,
For quickly is the childhood past.
And once your children are all grown,
Your heart will ache for them when they’ve gone.
You will miss the giggles, the hugs, and wiping little tears,
And be amazed how they grew up in such a few short years.
BIRTHDAY POEM
By: Lillian Carol Russell
I cried when they moved away,
My heart had never known a pain like it felt that awful day.
I held my grandchildren so close, hugged and kissed them and said good-bye,
But only when they drove away did I dare begin to cry.
I walked to the end of the lane as they drove out of sight, In the days and weeks that followed I cried both day and night.
It’s February now, it’s been over a year,
Another birthday has come and gone that I could not be near.
I hear the changes in Christian’s voice when we talk on the phone,
All traces of baby talk now completely gone.
Already he has learned to read and write,
Days and months and names of all the states he can recite.
The smartest in his class and hungry for knowledge,
Next thing I know he’ll be heading off to collage.
Six years old and growing up so fast,
I’m missing all those little special things and I know that childhood doesn’t last.
Only through prayer am I with them everyday,
Because I always lift them up when to the Lord I pray.
My grandchildren are always wrapped tight around my heart, And I love them in a special way even though we are apart.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
I remember long ago holding my babies so sweet,
Down the corridors of my mind I still hear the echo of little feet.
In retrospect they grew up so fast,
I didn't realize back then that these precious moments would not last.
From diapers to prom clothes to wedding attire,
There's no time to think when your world is on fire.
Racing the clock most everyday,
Looking forward to their being grown I wished this time away.
My son joined the Navy and the tears that I did shed,
I mourned his leaving almost as if that he were dead.
He brought home a buddy after just a few years,
Who then married our daughter giving birth to more tears.
She was so lovely in her gown of white lace,
But empty rooms and heartache moved in to take her place.
In time there were grandchildren God blessed us with two girls and a boy,
Grandchildren bring a very special kind of joy.
Until last fall they lived just next door,
Then they moved away to Texas to live forevermore.
'Til then I only thought I knew the meaning of pain,
They ripped out my heart and the tears fell like rain.
Never wish away a moment of your time,
Sooner than you think you'll long for days of nursery rhyme.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
Your mother said you were so cute as a little child,
Curls so blonde and eyes so blue with laughter in your smile.
You grew up too fast like any normal boy,
You always were all your life a source of pride and joy.
From high school to collage to Navy you went,
Thus all the days of your life were spent.
You’d met Bonnie and planned soon to marry,
We all assumed your name she would carry.
Sometimes the book of life is short,
And loved ones are left with a broken heart.
Your pages were few we all soon learned,
As the final chapter came and the pages all were turned.
Death reached out its icy hand and snatched you from the sky,
Your plane went down and all twelve on board would die.
Those who knew and loved you said you had the sweetest smile,
Perhaps it was because you would see God in just a while.
We’ve finally talked to those who found your remains in that cold and lonely place,
Where God reached out to call you home to look upon His face.
Dust to Dust
By: Lillian Carol Russell
(Written while living in Louisiana spring 1996)
There are puddles on the lawn today,
Spring showers have washed the dust away.
The remaining clouds are floating high,
Like cotton puffs on a bright blue sky.
The fruit trees in their beauty have already bloomed,
But they've met with frost and now I fear they are doomed.
The Red Bud tree with hot pink blooms was in all her glory,
Now brown limp dead flowers tell her sad story.
The walnut and pecan trees stand stark and bare,
No sign of spring yet showing there.
They are the last to put on their new spring gown,
Then we know for sure that old man winter has finally left town.
I'm obsessed as always to dig in the earth,
As signs of spring announce rebirth.
Soon I can stay in my yard for hours,
Planting beds and pots of flowers.
I marvel at this gift from God,
The beauty that springs from plain brown sod.
Even man He formed from clay,
As he created Adam that long ago day.
From dust to dust and so it goes, we're here for just a while,
May others say when we are gone, “They did their dust in style.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
I’ve always had roots so deep in southern soil and there I thought they’d always be,
But there is a longing now so deep inside of me.
My precious grandchildren are in Texas and they play the biggest part,
When it comes to the tug of war with my heart.
They need me and I need them and I truly want to be,
In a place where I can daily hold them close to me.
I never thought there would be so much pain in my golden years,
So often lost in memories and tears.
My mother’s getting old and will not always be here,
The thought of not being there with her fills me with anguish and fear.
One sister have I and our bond grows tighter through the years,
I love her so dearly and leaving her only adds to my fears.
My grand babies are so rapidly growing up,
That if I don’t hurry to be near them I know my portion will be a bitter cup.
I’m torn between two places and the pain is often hard to bear,
How I’d love to be in one place and have all my loved ones there.
I must be far from some part of my heart,
Do I go back to my roots or make a new start.
Either way I go it’s plain to see I lose,
Right now I’m halfway between them and Lord I ask you, "What do I choose?"
I praise you God for your promise of eternity,
Where loved ones gather and no separation will there ever be.
So many that I have loved so dearly are already there with you,
Just waiting for our family reunion somewhere beyond the blue.
We will all be together reunited at last,
When the toils of this earth are finally past.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Watch out daddy, he’s watching you.
He sees every thing you say and do.
This really should come as no surprise.
Dads are heroes in their children’s eyes.
If on life’s highway you are tempted to stray,
Just remember that child will follow some day.
Do they ever listen as from the Bible you read?
Have they ever seen you do a good deed?
As the twig is bent so grows the tree.
No truer words could ever be.
Guard that tender life that God has placed in your care.
Nurture it daily with love and prayer.
Set a good example so that they will never lose,
As they go through life, filling daddy’s shoes.
BY: Lillian Carol Russell
February’s over, I’m glad to see it go, time to fly the kites again as March winds blow.
Soon the daffodils will show their golden crown, and trees will wear there spring attire a lovely new green gown.
Have pity on the person who rushes through the day, not taking time to watch for signs of spring along the way.
Some have no time to smell the flowers or admire the way they grow, always in a hurry, in a rush and on the go.
God gave us so much beauty, a world full of treasure, with sights, sounds and scents to fill our lives with pleasure.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
The winds of change have blown again, as in life they oft times will,
And these winds have left my heart so cold, like winter's icy chill.
Today is so pretty the sky so blue, but inside my heart is the darkest gray,
The most precious treasures I had on this earth are gone far, far away.
They packed the toys, the little clothes, said good-bye with a hug and a kiss,
No one knows the joy they brought, naught can replace the sweet children I miss.
Almost five, Christian so cute and so smart,
Firstborn grandchild, heart of my heart.
Impish and angelic, my pretty Laura's only three,
Her sweet little hugs and kisses were like a breath of life to me.
Dominique's just one month old today,
I'll never really get to know her, to watch her grow and play.
Bear with me as I shed my tears,
I weep because I am no more a part of their growing years.
Oh sure I'll get to visit maybe once or twice a year,
But that will never be enough, not after having them here.
Their daddy's got work in Texas, and so they've gone to stay,
They tore out a chunk of my heart as I watched them drive away.
Seventeen hours to Dumas, my heart feels like clouds and rain,
I must go on, I will go on, but first I must get past the pain.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
They are coming, they are coming the first week in June, How I wish it would hurry, it can’t be too soon.
This house has been quiet for too long I fear,
The sound of little footsteps I’m anxious to hear.
Laughter and giggles and running down the hall, Fingerprints everywhere from little hands so small.
Lots of little hugs and velvet soft kisses,
It’s worth the messy house and the extra dirty dishes.
The housework can wait while they are here,
I must treasure each moment that I have them near.
Who cares what visitors think,
If they find dirty dishes piled high in my sink.
Oh how I wish they could always stay,
But after a month they will go away.
My heart will break once more,
But I’ll have a lot of precious memories in store.
Sunshine is coming back here to Big Creek,
In the form of Christian, Laura and Dominique.
By Lillian Carol Russell
Think of how our Savior died,
A shameful death and stripped of pride..
He carried the cross that was Hi own,
Until He stumbled, His strength all gone.
They placed through His feet a spike then drove them through each hand,
His body nailed, the cross was raised on Golgotha’s Hill to stand.
They scorned Him and cursed Him and someone said,
A crown should be placed upon His head.
It was fashioned of thorns, sharp to prick the skin,
And the blood flowed down His face where they stuck in.
My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken me He cried,
Then taking with Him all our sin, He gave up the spirit and died.
He hung on that cross, rejected and alone,
Taking with Him every sin but none that were His own.
To the tomb they went to anoint Him early in the day,
They found that he had risen, the stone was rolled away.
Praise God for Jesus who rose again,
Concurred sin and death and with the Father now does reign.
Praise God for saving grace,
For Jesus who died for sin in my place.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Soft as velvet to the touch, the petal of the rose,
Soft against my skin, the morning breeze that blows.
Majestic is the mighty tree, reaching to the sky,
Majestic are the clouds so gently drifting by.
I listen to music from frog, cricket and bird,
God’s song is playing, the sweetest music ever heard.
An orange ball of fire rises from a gray-dawn haze,
The sunrise, it always does amaze.
No highway noises, no city sounds,
Living in the country, where peace and love abounds.
You may not see my roots but they are there,
Binding me to the country life and the smell of the country air.
The city, I’ll visit once in a while,
When I have need of groceries or clothes to keep in style.
A day in town on those times that I do roam,
Make me oh so thankful for my county home sweet home.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
I painted my wagon then hitched it to a star,
In youth I thought I'd do so much, but I haven't traveled very far.
My wagon needs repainting now, it's weathered and it's worn,
My bubble hasn't burst yet, but it's pretty badly torn.
When did it happen that my youth slipped away,
I was so young and active, it seems like yesterday.
Now my body doesn't work so well, each movement causes pain,
My nimble days are over, my youth has been slain.
Each step I take now seems uphill,
Sometimes just getting out of bed takes all my will.
This vessel's breaking down a little day by day,
But it's only temporary, it's only made of clay.
When the Master calls me home, how wondrous it will be,
A glorified body for all eternity.
Never an ache, not a twinge of pain,
I'll be with my Lord and my loved ones again.
No tears in heaven, my God has promised no tears,
Joy ever always, no worries, no fears.
For God so loved the world, He sent His only Son,
Now when I die, I know for sure, life's only just begun.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
This morning sipping coffee in my swing, the rising sun and morning mists reveal an amazing thing.
A spider web so silky ahas been spun, the tiny drops of moisture look like diamonds in the sun.
I can not see a spider yet I know that it is there, just waiting for it’s work of art some breakfast to ensnare.
Amazing how it spins the web, intriguing the design, each different type of spider builds it’s very own kind.
When I stare into the beauty of the silky web I see, a tiny bit of God right there in front of me.
So many awesome wonders spread throughout the land and sea, who can look upon these things my God and not believe in Thee.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
The crickets sing in the nearby wood,
Their happy tune makes my heart feel good.
The mourning dove sings it's sad sweet song,
I hear it calling all day long.
Many birds are busy with chipper and cheerful melody,
Taking part in God's symphony.
From the lily pond I hear the frog, it carries off the bass,
A woodpecker taps on a tree, I love this musical place.
The wind blows through the new green leaves,
Imparting the look of dancing to the trees.
Much has changed in the ebb and flow,
There is a lot less get up in my go.
The sounds I hear grow sweeter each day,
As a little bit more of my life slips away.
Have I helped anyone in their darkest hour, I wonder this minute,
Is the world a little better place because that I am in it?
What have I done for the cause of Christ, He has done so much for me,
He shed His blood, gave His life back there on Calvary.
I look beyond the stars at night and feel so very small,
In awe of our God who created it all.
I listen to Him speak through insects, birds and wind in the trees,
I feel His mighty touch in the gentle blowing breeze.
He is an awesome God, a mighty God is He,
And awesome is the fact that He loves a sinner such as me.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
The symphony of rustling leaves,
Played by the wind in autumn's golden trees.
Soft brown mud squished between the toes,
Of a little girl with freckles on her nose.
The smell of hot chocolate on a winter's day,
New fallen snow in which to play.
The fragrance of a velvet rose,
Where a butterfly has stopped to pose.
A baby's tiny hand wrapped around my finger,
Lullabyes and memories in my heart still linger.
A Savior that loved me enough to go to the cross,
And take away my sin that I not be lost.
These are the things that make life worth living,
For these memories I am thankful and my cup runneth over with thanksgiving.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
The things in life that were my greatest source of joy,
Were wrapped up in the packages of a baby, a fair skinned little girl and a dark haired little boy.
Deep within there's turmoil, I feel empty and confused,
The sparks gone out, I just feel old and used.
I miss placing kisses on velvet soft cheeks,
And holding them close in a rocking chair that squeaks.
I miss the sound of laughter and running in the hall,
I even miss the little finger prints that trailed along the wall.
The little toys they left behind, I tearfully packed away,
Not a trace of children anywhere, the house stays quiet all day.
It helps to know they're happy living in Texas now,
And soon I hope this pain will pass and I'll get along somehow.
Our mighty God in heaven makes no mistakes,
And so I believe this move was for the children's sakes.
He sees me weeping, He knows every tear I cry,
And when through pain I've stronger grown, then He will wipe them dry.
If you want to help me now, just keep the Kleenex near,
And let me cry until I've cried my last and final tear.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Father let me see with my soul what you would have me to see,
Let me hear with my heart, when you speak to me.
Let me be your helping hand,
Reaching out in love to my fellow man.
Oh Lord, let me be your feet, Spreading the Word to those I meet.
Give me strength to serve you that will not fail,
When doubts and fears of the world assail.
Grant me compassion, that I might know,
The pain of others in life’s ebb and flow.
I am a sinner, you know that well,
And I deserve the pits of hell.
I thank you God that when you look at me;
The blood of your Son is all you see.
I ask you Lord that with each passing day,
You will help me serve you in a better way.
Help us all dear Father to make the choice,
To hush the sounds of the world and listen for your voice.
By: Your grandmother; Lillian Carol Russell
Inside your mother's womb you grew,
Your beauty known only to God, your precious life so new.
When I hold you cradled safely in my arms,
I'm mystified by your precious charms.
The little smile that so often curls your lips,
The touch is like velvet from those tiny fingertips.
I wonder as I watch what you must be thinking of,
To bring that little smile, it has to be God's love.
Perhaps you're remembering how the angels could sing,
Perhaps you still hear the flap of angel's wings.
I know when I look at you my love,
God sent you straight here from His presence above.
We're so thankful that He placed you with us,
To be nurtured and raised in our trust.
My prayer for you my precious baby dear,
Is that you never be misguided while you are here.
May the path on which you're led from today until you're old,
Be the path that leads you gently back to those streets of gold.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
It’s all I have left of the cute little boy,
Who filled our days with so much joy.
Old photographs are links to the past,
All I have left of the son who grew up too fast.
Here’s the one with his hand in the middle of his cake, Putting it so close on his first birthday proved to be a mistake.
The one I took when he was four,
Nothing but his feet could be seen behind the refrigerator door.
I’d missed him and he would not answer my call,
He’d licked the icing from the side of his cake and had removed it all.
It was too cute and how could I be mad,
It was the most fun on a birthday that any four-year-old could have had.
It’s time to put the photographs away,
Have to get back to the reality of today.
I’m so proud of the man he has grown to be,
Always helpful and courteous to me.
Answering his country’s call,
A patriot he gives his all.
Forgive me if I shed a tear,
I still miss the little boy that is no longer here.
Happy birthday to a very special son,
The best a mom could wish for a very special one.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
A little bit of heaven is very near,
God molded and made her and sent her here.
She’s so precious and perfect, little fingers and toes, Little blue eyes and a cute little nose.
She still plays with the angels in her dreams,
At least when she smiles that’s the way it seems.
Laura Delaney is her name,
Praise God we’re so happy and life will nevermore be the same.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Why do I notice the empty house, silent as the grave?
Weeds stand tall in beds now where flowers once stood tall and brave.
No family behind the windows bare,
To clean and polish with loving care.
No laughter ringing in the halls,
No paintings hang upon the walls.
Once she sheltered with loving care,
The family that had placed her there.
As it must, time marches on,
Until all who lived and laughed within are gone.
Old houses are tombstones of time,
Saying once there was a reason, once there was a rhyme.
Once a family lived within; my heartbeat and my soul,
But time has left me lonely sad and old.
I feel the ache of the empty house, it is parallel to me. Time’s caught hold and fleeting and it will not set me free.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
The world awaits discovery of its beauty by newborn baby Jarrett,
God give him vision please to see it and to share it.
Please dear Lord let him someday see,
Leaves drifting downward from a mighty tree.
May he see a blue bird in flight,
And a full moon rising on a mid-summer’s night.
Bugs and toads and butterfly wings,
Please give him vision Lord to see these wondrous things.
Let him someday hold a kite and watch it fly,
High upon the wind beneath a bright blue sky.
Let him see beauty fall from heaven in silent flakes of snow,
And enjoy its swirling beauty as cold winds blow.
From the prison of blindness blessed Father set him free,
Put vision in his eyes we pray, dear Lord please let him see.
( This poem was written and included in a prayer request to the Inspirationals mailing list in 2003. Doctors believed he might never develope eyesight. Baby Jarrett now has vision. Praise God!)
By; Lillian Carol Russell
Life goes on day after day,
Time marches on bringing changes our way.
Seasons of laughter, seasons of tears,
Yesterday is lost in the ebb and flow of years.
Memories, so many memories I recall,
Looking back I thank God for them all.
Yes even the ones that still bring a tear,
For the chastening has always drawn me near.
The tears draw me nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer to the cross of Calvary.
Reaching for the blood stained, nail scarred hand,
Reaching for strength from Thee, to stand.
Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, so in my time of pain, I ask Him for the sunshine, but fret not when I receive more rain.
I know that God is with me and every burden shares,
I never take a step alone, I know my Savior cares.
In pain He bore the cross alone,
Took my sin upon Him as if it were His own.
Whatever I may suffer as I journey through life you see,
It is nothing compared to what He did for me.
The price He paid, the Blood He shed, the nails that pierced His hands and feet,
The sacrifice He made was total and complete.
How could He love so much, a sinner yet to be,
How could He love at all, a sinner such as me.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
Our lives are like mirrors reflecting each day,
The stream of emotions that come our way.
Anger reflects anger and tears reflect tears,
But it is the reflection of joyfulness that heals and cheers.
Love and loyalty are unappreciated sometimes it seems,
We grow weary wishing others shared our same dreams.
Life would be much sweeter if we were all a part of,
The family of God, sharing and reflecting His love.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
I think back through time of all the tears shed,
Of all the weeping over the dead.
Of soldiers who died in their youth,
While fighting for freedom and justice and truth.
The ones who loved them grow old but keep in memory yet, The youthful smile of the soldier they loved and will never forget.
Forever young the face in the photograph there,
Beautiful, bold and handsome in the uniform they wear.
This Memorial Day I remember those who have died for me, And for our America the beautiful, to keep our country free.
Each time you see our colors of red and white and blue, Just remember the fallen soldiers who bled and died for you.
And though time in this life for them has gone,
Remember the soldier whose soul goes marching on.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Winter blew its icy breath, I huddled near the fire,
To see the flowers in bloom again became my heart’s desire.
I thank God the seasons change, how boring it would be
To never see a golden leaf drift downward from a tree.
If the flowers bloomed around us each day throughout the year,
We’d soon not appreciate them, because they’re always here.
It’s just our human nature not to appreciate the cost,
Of the things we value most, until the thing’s been lost.
We seem to take for granted what is with us every day
And only want them back again when they have gone away.
God knew all about it when He placed us here on earth,
So He gave us seasons, that we appreciate the summer’s worth.
A time to grow and harvest, a time to reap the grain,
We tire of summer’s heat and yearn for autumn breezes once again.
Autumn turns to winter, His powers I see,
In the naked waiting arms of the up-reaching tree.
They remind me of my Father and of His mighty powers,
Just knowing they’ll be green again,and knowing there’ll be flowers.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
On the breath of autumn's breeze,
The leaves float gently down from gaily colored trees.
There are so many blessings to be thankful for this time of year,
As the special day set aside for thanking God draws near.
Let us not limit our thanks to just one day but always be thanksgiving,
Praise and thank the Lord for everyday we're living.
Thank Him for the butterfly that floats on velvet wings, For every plant and every bird that sings.
Thank Him even for the bad times for they help to make us strong,
It seems sometimes we learn the most when everything goes wrong.
When the frost has spread it's diamond dust,
And the green colors change to crimson, gold and rust.
We know by the signs Thanksgiving Day is near,
And we praise Thee oh God for our bountiful year.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Mother’s Day was coming and she could not help but feel sad,
Her son had gone away to war and she really missed the lad.
He was fair with eyes of blue,
But like a true Marine, he was strong of statue too.
Peggy longed to have him back upon American sod,
But trusted he would be OK for he was in the hands of God.
Jeremy was raised in a loving Christian home his two brothers and he,
Where they learned to trust the savior for whatever might come to be.
A flower picked in Baghdad, that land so far away,
He sent inside a letter and it came for Mother’s Day.
How special this love token he could never know,
Just how much this little flower would thrill her heart so.
It meant far more than any grand bouquet
That he might have sent her for Mother’s Day.
May God bless each mother this Mother’s Day,
Whose son or daughter is far away.
You see, there’s a bond and a love like no other,
That dwells deep in the heart of a mother.
Written for my dear Christian friend; Peggy Adamson
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Winter came and spoke with a chill,
Covering the land with an icy kill.
Nights are still cool;
Days are getting warmer,
Spring is upon us
And she’s a real charmer.
Daffodils burst forth in their golden glory,
Birds are singing their new love story.
Plum trees bedazzle in gowns of snowy white,
The hoot owl speaks late into the night.
Tender new leaves adorn aging trees,
The Lord in His wisdom gave us all of these.
These gifts that remind us that all is not lost
Because of a savior who went to the cross.
He died there, our savior our king,
But He defeated death and rose again just like spring.
So let spring remind us that eternal life is ours,
A gift from God through His mighty powers.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
When we hear all the horrors of columbine High,
So brutal, so senseless, we all question why?
Children in trench coats on a bloody killing spree,
There is a problem in the land of the free.
Movies are filled with hate, murder, violence and crime,
Our youth is exposed to it time after time.
I’m sure parents thought the trench coats were just a phase,
Never dreaming of the heartache that would come of this craze.
Young sons and daughters with futures so bright,
Like shooting stars have disappeared and taken all their light.
As a mother strokes the pillow of her child’s empty bed,
She weeps in great torment, for the child she bore is dead.
Who can know the pain in a parent’s loving heart,
Who would have dreamed that so soon they should part?
It’s not too late to change, there is a better way,
We should watch very closely the games that they play.
If children were raised and taught according to God’s plan,
There would be fewer problems for modern man.
If all were taught to live by the golden rule,
Children would be safe, even when they are in school.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
How quickly go the days, how swiftly fly the years,
Just sitting while the dew dries, recalling laughter, wiping tears.
My childhood days as I recall crept by so very slow,
I wished them gone for I had things to do and places I must go.
Always in a hurry I did travel down life's road,
Adding burdens everyday collecting quite a load.
I piled them high until my back was bent,
Youth and energy all were spent.
We raised a daughter and a son,
They're both grown now my parenting is done.
Now what is left, what is left for me?
I thank my God at last I see.
The journey is it's own reward, the grandbabies, the birds, The flowers in the yard.
It's not getting there at last I know,
It's enjoying the trip as through life we go.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Sometimes the roads we travel take us where we want to go, These times we never want to end and hope the journey’s slow.
Then suddenly it happens and we want to travel fast,
The road takes us into heartache and we hope it will not last.
Whether the sun is shinning or the skies are no longer blue,
Just know your savior loves you and He will see you through.
He will not just walk beside you on your darkest day,
If you will only let Him He will carry you all the way.
Just remember that our hardest lessons are often learned through pain,
And know that He will heal your broken heart and you will smile again.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Our lives are like the seasons, childhood is the spring, Full of beauty and promise, youth, a beautiful thing.
Then summer overtakes us, this is when we grow,
The Master must do some weeding though.
Seasons of laughter, of heartaches and tears,
The process takes so many years.
Fall overtakes us after middle age, we’ve flowered and lost our bloom
But with knowledge gained and glory bound there is no time for gloom.
Winter finds us feeble, hair of white and moving slow,
Not a lot of get-up left in our go.
But we are not sad that winter is here,
Because our journey to heaven, like springtime is getting near.
There we’ll bloom in full glory once more,
Made whole again and glorified on heaven’s golden shore.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
I was tired of the cold and wished for warm days and spring rain,
Now I can work outside in my flowerbeds again.
I’ve ripped the dead morning glory veins away,
Now I’ll watch for the new ones to pop out of the ground just any day.
Often I hear, when I pick up the phone,
"I’ve been calling all day, have you been gone?"
I’ll say, "It happened this morning when I opened the door, The yard monster dragged me outside once more."
We’re the greatest of friends, the yard monster and I;
He cheers me when I’m feeling low and just won’t let me cry.
"Oh these flowers will be pretty!" he whispers in my ear;
I think you should plant some Zinnias over here."
"Look at that spot, it gets full sun,
Plant some Periwinkles there; they’ll be lots of fun.
Impatiens are my favorites because they love the shade,
The monster bids me plant some more, "Are those all the beds you’ve made?"
We are so happy, the yard monster and me,
Planting pretty flowers for everyone to see.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
The years oh my how they have flown,
So fleeting, so fast, where have they gone.
This melancholy feeling gets out of control,
It must be something about getting old.
I really miss little hugs and kisses,
And the joy of granting little wishes.
A little hand tugging at my finger,
These haunting memories will always linger.
My children both are grown,
And far away with lives of their own.
Each time I watch them drive away,
I wonder if I’ll ever have them close to home to stay.
Too old to be a mommy anymore,
Too old to lose sleep and walk the floor.
A perfect granny in grandma prime,
But the babies are so far away and I’m loosing valuable time.
People change and children grow up,
A childless granny sips daily from age’s bitter cup.
I have to settle for a visit from time to time,
So many wasted moments that it seems like such a crime.
Let all that read be sure to know,
That time speeds up as the years come and go.
By; Lillian Carol Russell
Remember the old song, "If I Could Put Time In A Bottle, I'd spend every moment with you"?
It's the sort of thing if given the chance, most of us would do.
Reliving childhood days that were such fun,
Running and laughing and playing in the sun.
Holding new born babies, rocking them to sleep,
All those precious moments in time that just don't keep.
God in His wisdom did not this option give,
For He knew we would never go forward to live.
We would refuse the pain that makes us stronger,
Choosing to remain in joy a little longer.
Ever retreating to past happier times and places,
Choosing not to run in life's trying races.
It's the bumps in life we should use to climb,
Reaching and growing to heights sublime.
As we leave behind the happy moments from today,
Others will come somewhere along the way.
God gives us our memories and the promise of eternal joy for all,
If on the name of His Son we will call.
The heartaches and pain we encounter along the way,
Make us better, stronger people as we face each new day.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
There is nothing quite like the sound of rain,
As it softly caresses a window pane.
The smell of the earth when it first gets wet,
It’s the nicest odor that I’ve smelled yet.
My mind goes back to when I was a child;
I’m splashing in puddles and wearing a smile.
Squishy mud between my toes,
A little girl with a freckled nose.
Time travel is easy for me,
In a vehicle powered by memory.
Back to the days when I was small,
And no matter the problem my daddy could fix them all.
Now I am old and he is in heaven above,
But he left me with memories of his kindness and unfailing love.
Soon he was followed by his siblings, one and then another,
And many years later God called home our mother.
Now I am, my sister, my cousins and me,
The older generation, who ever thought such a thing could be?
We understand so much better now why grandparents moved so slow,
They were still in a hurry but had lost their get up and go.
It will be a great reunion on heaven's golden street,
When with love and total understanding once more we meet.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Weep not for this empty vessel of clay, Let your tears be tears of joy, for at last I am away.
Free of the mortal cage that had bound me here, walking with my savior now,
And with my loved ones dear.
Remember me with a smile upon my face, for now I am smiling always, in this most glorious place.
I walk and talk and smile, without a worry or a care,
I wait for you in heaven- BE THERE!!!
By Lillian Carol Russell
(Written while living in Louisiana.)
The birds are all a chatter, they've not yet left the trees,
I came outside to join them for morning's cooling breeze.
We're waiting for the sunrise, my feathered friends and I,
It's only just beginning with streaks of pink against a darkened sky.
Brighter and brighter, it's crimson beauty can't be told,
Then suddenly to the color, God adds some streaks of gold.
Moments ago the trees were black silhouettes against the awesome sky,
Now they show their colors as the sun rapidly climbs high.
The birds that were singing have all left their nest,
Time for breakfast of bugs and worms, no time to sing until they rest.
I've finished my morning coffee, there are lots of things to do today,
I've started with a prayer and a beautiful sunrise, there is no better way.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
I watch the lovely golden leaves,
Sailing down in the autumn breeze.
Here a red, there a brown,
All so gently drifting down, to their final rest upon the ground.
Beneath the tree which gave them life,
They gladly die and without strife.
Oh what beauty I behold in death
As I watch them gently go to rest.
For certain God is the mighty tree,
And we are the colored leaves you see.
The tree gives life each spring,
To new leaves from the old and moldering.
And so shall God bring back anew,
Eternal life for the chosen few.
As the leaf falls only to the ground,
We must be only toward heaven bound.
Follow the rules He has set down,
And drift not away from the holy ground.
Music: "For Dad" By: Larry Holder http://larryholdermusic.org/ (Used with permission)
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