|
The Angel Lady
by Bob Lazzar-Atwood
She was called the Angel Lady for the ornaments she made,
She carved them out of scraps of fir and pine,
They echoed a belief she held from which she never strayed,
That angels are around us all the time.
She first received her calling with a heart consumed by grief,
The year her loving husband passed away,
She found that carving offered her a measure of relief
And it brought a sense of purpose to her day.
And then when Christmas came with all the memories it brings,
And clouds of sadness fell upon her heart,
She carved her husband’s likeness with a pair of angel wings,
And magically the clouds began to part.
She fixed it with a piece of string and hung it on the tree,
He always loved the smell of fresh cut fir,
And when she sat beside the tree to carve a bit or read,
She felt his loving presence close to her.
When others saw the ornament, her neighbors and her friends,
They marveled at how lifelike it appeared,
They begged her to consider carving ornaments for them
Of loved ones they had lost throughout the years.
And so her mission started and her reputation spread,
As orders came from cities far and wide,
From people who were seeking some remembrance of their dead,
And comfort from the pain they felt inside.
The children were the hardest and it often made her weep,
To carve their childish features in the pine,
But late at night a voice would reassure her in her sleep
That angels were around them all the time.
And one day she received a special letter in her box
From a boy whose family dog had passed away,
She thought about it briefly and then asked herself “why not?”
And she started carving pets that very day.
For twenty years she carved until her hands were old and tired
And all her youthful energy was gone,
But her belief in angels always made her feel inspired
And helped her find the strength to carry on.
And then one Christmas day a neighbor found her in her chair,
Her heart no longer sounding its commands,
With shavings all around her, in her clothing and her hair,
Her carving blade still nestled in her hand.
And as the medics came and slowly wheeled her to the door,
Her grieving friends were too distraught to see,
The photograph that rested right beside her on the floor
Or the newest little angel on the tree.
It hung there by her husbands like two birds upon a limb,
A woman carved in wood still wet with stain,
Her head was turned and she was smiling lovingly at him,
And he was looking back at her the same.
Like all the other angels she had carved throughout her days,
The image was so real it chilled the spine,
And engraved upon the bottom was this very simple phrase,
“Angels are around us all the time,”
It’s Christmas Time
by Bob Lazzar-Atwood.
Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself some happiness
It’s Christmas time again!
Call a truce with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Give your differences a breather
And declare a time of peace,
Don’t let angry feelings taint
The precious time you have to spend,
And allow yourself some happiness
It’s Christmas time again!
Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It’s a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
So allow yourself some happiness
It’s Christmas time again!
A daughter's tribute to her mom
by Prasadi Fernando
You are the eyes I have,
You are the sun of my world,
Who come to me having measureless love,
You are more precious than even a God to me,
Whenever it is I feel your romance,
I feel your pulse,
Your sparkling eyes strength me,
I had this world because of you.
I beg you pardon for every fault I did.
Now it's my time, I'll be your eyes,
I need nothing if you are with me.
I can fight even with God for you,
I can give everything for you,
I'll be with you till I'm alive,
You are everlasting in my heart ,
I'm your sweet little girl,
Until there's the sun and the moon
Every fortune will be yours !
‘Tis Time
Hark! ‘Tis time for our grand Ol’ Saint Nick
to polish his sleigh ‘till it’s glittering slick,
then beckon Rudolph with velvet sleeve
"Away! Let us dash ‘round the world this fine eve!"
Through sky’s star lights and snowflakes they speed,
staying alert for jumbo jets they must heed.
"Tis there!" Santa shouts at rooftops sight
of the child whose Wish List they’ll fill first this night.
With reindeer hushed, their sleigh comes to rest
atop the sleeping house of our Saint Nick’s quest.
Betwixt gift boxes with shining bows
he takes out a silk bag so golden it glows.
"Whoosh" down the chimney, gently he lands
sets down his surprise and unties satin bands.
One by one, answered wishes appear -
Santa checks off his list to see they’re each here.
"I’ve brought thee a chest of Rainbows bright
and soft flutter of Butterfly wings in flight.
A feather of Hope ‘tis here to shake,
and Stardust to sprinkle, what Magic ye’ll make!
Sparkling inside clear crystal that gleams
are Faith in Miracles and Trust in Your Dreams."
Alas, came the last wish - Santa sighed,
he’d no way to grant it, though elves how they’d tried.
"I wish, Sweet Lad, Peace was in this sack."
Tapping his nose, in the red sleigh he was back.
Surrounded by longed-for dolls and trains,
upward they lifted with a click of deer reins.
"There’s hope, young man, peace will find it’s way
if all the world says your prayer on Christmas Day….
"Please heal mankind’s wounds and Let Love Win
then my Daddy can come home to us, Amen."
- © Tomi Fratto December 2008
Christmas Acrostic
C is for the Child born that night to be our light. (John 8:12)
H is for holy is His name. (Rev.4:8)
R is for rejoice with gladness & joy. (Luke 1:14)
I is for Immanuel, God with us. (Is.7:14,) John 1:14)
S is for the star that led the Wise men to Him. (Matt.2:2)
T is for the truth & grace that was sent our way. (John 1:14)
M is for Mother Mary laying Him in swaddling clothes in the
manger. (Luke 2:7)
A is for angels singing songs of joy. (Luke 2:14)
S is for salvation.
- Johnnie DesRochers.
It's Christmas Time Again
(by Bob Lazzar-Atwood)
Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!
Call a truce with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Give your differences a breather
And declare a time of peace,
Don't let angry feelings taint
The precious time you have to spend,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!
Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It's a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
So allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!
Message From Santa Claus
If it were in my powers,
I would bring peace and love,
To this world of ours,
But I don't have magic enough,
I can cross the sky,
and pass by the stars,
But I can't seem to stop,
Any of hatred's wars,
I see children on the street,
With no hope left,
in the eyes.
So many homeless people
with no where to sleep.
And my heart cries.
I can't give the things they need,
Oh But God I would try.
I'm only a fantasy,
that once took wings to fly,
Some are deceived,
by the gifts that money can buy,
But those who truly believe,
see the gift with the heart,
not with the eye,
I sometime stop and go to my knees,
and pause,
and I too always pray,
That we will find a end to wars,
and live in peace one day.
For all those who believe in me,
I will continue my cause,
Across the stars,
over the wars,
On Christmas Eve,
For the hearts that still believe,
In Santa Claus
©Judy Arline Puckett
Merry Christmas Daddy
In loving memory of
Frederick Herman Tegtmeier(9/11/1928 – 12/28/2006)
The Christmas lights twinkle
and reflect in my tears,
as I suddenly realize
it's been almost a year.
My daddy left us
and his earthly home.
He's off in the heavens
to eternally roam.
As luck would have it,
he left his best in me;
from his sarcastic wit
to his "evil eye" gene.
My sons' didn't know
much of my dad.
Still they cherish what little
time that they had.
But long before leaving
his home here on earth,
we all gained from his values
of pride and self-worth.
So my happy memories
Must dull the pain,
and soothe my soul
'til I'm with daddy again.
Contributed by Debbie Tegtmeier
(dtegtmeier@comcast.net)
A Frozen Tear
By William Thomas
Winter in Kodiak, a time of little light.
The snow brightens the ground and the stars light up the night.
A cluster of Spruce sag deep, a drift in front of my car.
My heart weighs heavy. Thoughts of relatives afar.
A blustery wind blows, north then south.
A cold winter thirst, warm java for my mouth.
A homeless man sleeps, all bundled in clothes.
His heart deep with thoughts of past Christmas woes.
A handshake, a smile, a sip of my coffee.
A friend in waiting, I became to he.
Some food from the shelter, a warm place to rest.
His life for the moment, felt happy and blessed.
He told me the stories of days long ago.
My full attention, he required, to him I happily bestowed.
A veteran of the war, a father of four.
A long distance call seemed to matter no more.
The blanket of stars and the snow under his feet,
only brought back memories of a scar so deep.
A story from my life, I understood his loss.
To spend Christmas without family, there's no greater cost.
One more handshake. A "man-hug" goodbye.
His face looked of worry, wondered if I would be back tonight.
A job in Kodiak sometimes is so rare.
But I am happy to tell you, where I work is here.
A smile, a thought, the lending of an ear.
A thousand times more helpful than a frozen tear.
|
