THEN COMETH THE WINTER

Before I begin my blog posting today I want to make readers aware of a website posting by our local paper about a presentation and book signing to be held by a dear author friend from our writers group. After co writing a book with her sister about their childhood on a farm she decided to write a children’s book. You can learn more about it by following this link.

http://www.pvtrib.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=48943&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1

Click photo to enlarge it.

If you have young children it will be a fun book to buy for them. Contact information is given on the website.

THEN COMETH THE WINTER

It was a wonderful autumn. The weather was warmer than normal, fall colors were beautiful, my health has improved and the sky was crystal clear.

Today, however, all of that changed. The wind is blustering from the North, the trees are bare, the sun infrequently peaks from behind the harsh dark clouds circling the mountains. Snow is forecast overnight and into next week. Of course, the snow here only remains on the ground for a few hours or occasionally a day or two.

This ending cycle of the year causes one to reflect upon the often times harshness of life realities. Those of us who have had loved ones pass away during the Christmas holidays enter the season with mixed emotions. It is a time of JOY with the blessing of Christ’s birth and the blessed memories. It is also a time of loneliness and loss.

Yesterday, I finished reworking and finalizing my latest poem. It speaks to the falling leaves and the fading of life. It is the reality we see in nature and our experience as the harsh winter approaches. Beyond that it presents the Resurrection hope we have because Jesus was born, crucified and rose again. I hope that whatever your “winter of life may be” you will live in the warmth of His birth and Love!

REQIUEM TO LEAVES

Jack frost bites, the leaves change color,
Their beauty we behold.
The story of the leaves demise,
In beauty doth unfold.

Majestic colors of the leaf,
Sets our hearts aglow.
We wish the rolling hills ablaze
Forever on would flow.

The wind doth blow with gentle breeze,
It rustles in the leaves,
They lose their grip and flutter down,
The tree their loss it grieves.

The leaves are raked in piles high,
In them the children play.
Until at last a match is lit,
And some are burned away.

But other piles are turned to mulch,
Within them worms will live.
Mixed with black dirt they help the trees
The branches new leaves give.

So it is with the lives of men,
It is a scriptural truth.
A body with strong muscles draped,
The beauty of our youth,

But in the winter of our lives,
Gray hair our glory is.
A signal that our lives are short,
Before eternal bliss.

So as our bodies fall away,
And on a slab we lie.
It is appointed to all men,
That at some point we die.

Like leaves a choice is given each,
To bury or to burn.
Our souls took flight, bodies in earth,
For resurrection yearn.

Bodies, creatures, plants, trees, await,
Our resurrection day.
When bodies rise, to live again,
And death doth steal away.

All creation will be renewed,
Beauty all will attain.
Our bodies will immortal be,
We sing a new refrain!

Look at the leaves and think about,
Our ever loving Lord.
The beauty of all nature sings,
By all He is adored.

Our Savior comes, Creator God,
His praises now we sing.
Around His throne our knees we bend,
Our Savior, Lord and King!

Don E. Cunningham, Patriarch Octogenarian Poet © 11/19/2008 299 words.

Romans3:19-21(NASV) For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope, that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God

MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A “FINE 2009”

HUGS, IN CHRIST’S AND MY LOVE

Don E. Cunningham, P.O.P. ©12/13/08 707