Christmas
is upon us once again.
It almost
feels like I’m taking it on the chin.
So many
changes occurred this past year
Causes me
to stop and shed a tear.
But tears
can be good – they heal and cleanse
They help
me look at life thru a different lens.
In
December, 2010 my sweet Gram went to be with Him
Her first
Christmas in heaven not a light was dim
I’m sure
it was glorious to kneel at Christ’s feet
Better
than the best Christmas treat!
The day
after Easter 2011
My dear
Mom & Dad were carried to heaven
Oh, what
a celebration there must have been
But here
on earth, the drenching rains caused quite a din.
Yes, I am
sad for the way the were killed
But I
know it was what God willed.
Just one
day before they laid hands and prayed for Stacie, Kris, and me
That we
would follow God’s will, that we would see
What
wonderful things God had in store
They
prayed, His love on us would pour.
The day
before that we were all together
At Sarah
and Tory’s we did gather
And heard
the news that they were expecting a boy,
Little
Jayden Troy, who would bring us such joy!
In
September he was born on his very own day
He came
into this world his very own way.
Stacie,
too was with child once again – this time a girl
Our
hearts and minds were awhirl!
Two new
grandbabies for me
How could
it be?
It almost
seemed they would take the place
Of Mom
and Dad who had finished their race.
I know
they had prayed for them and their kids as well
They
prayed thru many generations so all would tell
They
prayed for my brothers and me
They
prayed for my children and theirs you see
They
prayed for our family for many yet unborn
Their
lives were not wasted; they would not want us to mourn.
They
loved all their grandchildren but none quite like
The very
first grandchild, a grandson named Mike.
They
experienced love when they held him in their arms
He had
captured their hearts with his unknown charms.
Their
second grandchild brought another first
A grand
daughter – they thought their hearts would burst!
Of
granddaughter Stacie the Holy Spirit told Granddad that she
Was given
the gifts of healing and of prophecy
Oh so
many things have occurred this year
I could
not list all the things I hold dear
But I
would be amiss if I did not share
The birth
of my granddaughter – it wouldn’t be fair!
In
October, Novella was born on the very day
We were
to celebrate her aunt Sarah’s birthday
She was
named for her great-great Gram
A great
honor for God’s little lamb.
The very
next month we all made our way
To Aunt
Sis and Uncle Virgil’s on Thanksgiving Day.
Yes it
was hard – Mom & Dad were missed
But we
still gave thanks as we hugged and kissed.
I am so
grateful for my dear uncle and aunt
Lord
bless them, dear God please grant
Strength,
health, peace, and joy thru the years
As they struggle,
love, support, and pray through their tears.
And so as
we gather to celebrate another birth
The One
who came to give us great worth
We
rejoice for our dear ones who have gone on before
As they
celebrate with Jesus, their families and more
Because
of Christ’s great love for me
I know
that one day I will see
Mom, Dad,
Gram, Grandpa (the list would go on and on)
So I
can’t be sad that for now they are gone.
This is a
day to celebrate the great love of God
And to
know that He loves me even though I am flawed.
And so I
surrender my life to His ways
I will
follow Him for all of my days.
I believe
in the words of the song that I hear
It
certainly has become so very clear:
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor doeth He sleep
For wrong shall fail, and right prevail
With peace on earth good will toward men.
Till ringing singing on its way
the world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men”