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Holiday Poems and Articles
January 9, 2007
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Written for the Dalhart Texan News Paper
Well here we are on the threshold of a new year. God has given us another chance to do better. I heard a man say recently that if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. Now there is quite a lesson in that statement for all of us. If we want change, we have to step out on faith, get outside our comfort zone and strive to change. What better time to do that than now. I feel that the Lords’ return is very soon. Who, having read their Bible, can watch the television and not be aware of this good news. There are folks who hang on to what they have always known. No matter if they are on a flaming platform hanging on to the very edge, at least it feels familiar. Let go and let God take over.
There were changes in my life in 2006; I had a period of personal turmoil. I learned who my true friends were and I thank God for them and for the laughter and tears they shared with me.
I’ve learned that there are a lot of namby-pamby people walking around in the guise of goodness. The Bible calls them wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be careful of these, but there are far more good people in the world who lift you up, seek them out. Philippians 4:8 says it best: …”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This year take time to find the good, honest lovely people in this world. Spend your days in praising God and thanking Him even in the bad times. When things get really bad, remember that He is preparing you for something wonderful. God bless us all, bring us world peace and come quickly Lord Jesus. May each of you be blessed in this year 2007!
By: Lillian "Carol" Russell
A little girl with freckles on my face and laughter in my heart, I never dreamed there'd come a day when loved ones would depart.
Watching my grandmothers working brought joy in a special way, washing clothes on the rub board seemed like a great way to play.
These good old days that I now remember, are precious gifts, like roses in December.
Sitting by the fireplace and listening to the crackle of the fire, and the smell of the smoke as the flames climbed higher.
Going fishing with my daddy and getting soaking wet, precious memories, good times that I never will forget.
His laughter now a memory that echoes down the halls of yesterday, where that freckle faced little girl used to play.
Time is so precious but we can never be told, it is something that we learn on the road to growing old.
May your memories like rainbows bring you joy and pleasure, may they be precious as a jeweled golden treasure.
I thank God that He lets me remember, and know again the joy, of roses in December.
(Christmas)
(Written for my grandchildren when they were toddlers)
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Peek-a-boo my pumpkins, as I play this game with you, it seems like only yesterday, your mom played it too.
Soft little fingers that grasp my own, how fleeting is childhood, how quickly they are grown.
The excitement of Christmas that once filled the air, as I dressed your mom and your Uncle Norman and put ribbons in your mommy's hair.
With love in their hearts and laughter on their face, what joy filled our lives in that time and space.
I’m lost in memory, tears moisten my eyes, gone forever are the days of their lullabies.
You ar too young to read this today, you would not understand what I’m trying to say.
I love you so much with all of my heart, and herein lies the message I hope to impart:
God the Father sent Jesus the Son, to die for our sins, to be the crucified one.
We celebrate His birth on Christmas Day, Jesus the truth, the light and the way.
God loved us so much that He sent us His Son, knowing the anguish of the deed that would be done.
It must have caused Him pain when He made Golgotha’s Hill, for he knew it was here that His Son’s blood would spill.
It goes beyond the Christmas presents, the paper and bows, the lights in the windows and the tree that glows.
God out of love gave us His son, of all the gifts we’ll ever get; this is the most priceless one.
I hope that you will read this when you’re old enough to know, and understand the message of our God who loves you so.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
On the breath of autumn's breeze,
The leaves float gently down from gaily colored trees.
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.
A NEVER ENDING STORY
By: Lillian "Carol" Russell
Once more the seasons promise change. The silk flowers in the stores have changed from summer’s varied colors to the glorious shades of amber, golden greens and carnelian-like reds. I’ve always loved the fall of the year; it whispers the promise of a cool breeze to replace the scorching heat of summer. It speaks of snowflakes just around the corner, of Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas lights, of excitement soon to fill the air.
As the years have taken flight, I find myself as more of an onlooker at life. When I was young I was in such a hurry to get older; life’s pace was way too slow. I was in the middle of the road driving full speed ahead; I wanted to speed it up. Now much older and a little wiser, I can’t help but wonder at the foolishness of youth and feel a little sad for all those young parents who rush headlong into life. Their thoughts are of raising the children, getting them educated and involved in life, making sure they are safe and happy and well. Then one day, quiet suddenly it seems; those kids are grown and out of the house. Finally you have time on your hands, time that you wish you could share with your kids, but now you don’t have kids anymore. The house is quiet all day, you don’t have to spend time doing their laundry or picking up their toys, chores you hated, but now miss like crazy.
As seasons go; you have played away the springtime; you have weathered the summer and raised your crop and now it is time to enjoy the quiet beauty of fall. Grandchildren come along and you watch them grow so fast right before your eyes. The race is on again and you watch, knowing what lies ahead for their parents. You find yourself telling those grandchildren stories of the old days when you were a kid. You wonder how it happened, how you became the old ones.
You wonder and you watch as just around the corner you know that winter awaits, winter with it’s killing frost. And yet you know that because of Christ, beyond that winter lies eternal spring, life without end, without heartache and without pain. This earthly book will close, the last chapter will be read, but you know that it is a continued story, on the other side of this life, the sequel never ends.
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.
"…He who honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father, who hath sent him." —John 5:23
I Am Of Ireland
By; Lillian Carol Russell
I may never see her shores of emerald green or walk in the mist of the morning there, but my heart yearns for Ireland in some long forgotten prayer.
My ancestors from her shores so long ago they came, and all they brought that still remains is just my family name.
Iley McDaniel, my grandfather, descendent of the emerald isle, what laughter I remember in his mischievous and loving smile.
Somewhere inside my heart she lingers there, the memory of her buffeted by waves of time and care.
But always on St Patty’s Day, there is a longing in my heart, to see the land of Ireland of which I am a part.
Christmas / New Year / Valentine / Easter /Mother's Day / Father's Day
Like Roses In December
By: Lillian "Carol" Russell
A little girl with freckles on my face and laughter in my heart, I never dreamed there'd come a day when loved ones would depart.
Watching my grandmothers working brought joy in a special way, washing clothes on the rub board seemed like a great way to play.
These good old days that I now remember, are precious gifts, like roses in December.
Sitting by the fireplace and listening to the crackle of the fire, and the smell of the smoke as the flames climbed higher.
Going fishing with my daddy and getting soaking wet, precious memories, good times that I never will forget.
His laughter now a memory that echoes down the halls of yesterday, where that freckle faced little girl used to play.
Time is so precious but we can never be told, it is something that we learn on the road to growing old.
May your memories like rainbows bring you joy and pleasure, may they be precious as a jeweled golden treasure.
I thank God that He lets me remember, and know again the joy of roses in December.
AND SOON ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S DAY
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Amazing how fast a year can pass away, like sands through the giant hour glass of life 2004 has slipped into the vast sea of yesterdays soon to become mixed in a blur of memories.
Christmas morning I opened the back door and was mesmerized by the beautiful sight. The snow that had fallen for the last few days had ended and the sun was bright. The ground seemed sprinkled with tiny diamonds. As I looked out at it, the wind caught the snow from the roof above and swirled the tiny diamond crystals through the air, they seemed to dance to the soft sounds of the music that I was listening to. I stood for a while trying to imprint this moment of beauty deep into my brain.
My mind raced back to my childhood and Christmas mornings long ago, it lingered there in the past and I could almost smell the scent of new dolls wearing lace dresses with silky curls of golden hair. There was a moment of excitement as I remembered that once I was young and carefree. It was so long ago and oh so far away, but I lingered there yet awhile. As I smelled my cornbread baking, I thought of those mornings that we all gathered at my grandma's house. It was filled with the scent of fresh baked cornbread and turkey roasting in the oven of the old wood stove. I eagerly watched my aunts crumble the cornbread, chop the boiled eggs and green onions to make the dressing. Oh how I wanted help back then. Now it is my turn, and I do it just the way they did, letting my grandchildren help so that they can carry on the tradition.
I had a note from my husband's cousin Rachel on Christmas morning and she told me that she was using his mom's recipes for Christmas dinner. She said, "I miss them all." A lump rose in my throat as I read that, because it was just how I was feeling. I miss my mother-in-law so much and my daddy and all those aunts and uncles who brought so much joy into my life.
Christmas is such a loving time of year, celebrating our saviors birth together as a family is truly a joyful occasion, but as the years slip away we find that more loving faces have gone on to share their smiles on the other side of glory. I find each year that I feel a little sadder on this wonderful holiday and it is not that I am not remembering the true meaning, that Jesus is the reason for the season! It is because I miss my loved ones more at this time of year because there are so many wonderful memories associated with this holiday.
We are all on a journey, just passing through on this trip to eternity. There will be joy at the end but the more we watch our loved ones disembark before us, the more we feel a twinge of sadness on these special days that once we spent with them, sharing love and laughter.
When we reach that final destination, our joy will be fully restored as we behold our savior and experience that grand reunion in glory. So, if you too are having a bit of the holiday blues, I wish for you sunshine and swirls of crystal snowflakes dancing to beautiful music and reminding us that God is in control and He does all things well. May your New Year be filled with health and happiness and lots of laughter, with just enough of trying times to make you strong, but mostly filled with pleasure to keep within your heart a merry song.
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
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.
Music: “For Dad” By: Larry HolderThanks to (Larry’s Songs of Praise) for the music on this page!
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