Reflective thoughts and poems

At the grave of Jesus

While you are reflecting at my grave
I pray that you are crying.
A sign of the cross that you care.
I pray that you are trying.

Disbelief is not a sentence
As if behind some steel bars,
No way out, no pardon will come.
Are you longing for the funeral cars?

Bow down or kneel down to pray.
It matters not how you weep.
Simply bend down and kiss my face ---
I'm only buried a breath deep.
 

Each Day A Life​

by Robert William Service​

Robert W. Service
I count each day a little life,
With birth and death complete;
I cloister it from care and strife
And keep it sane and sweet.
With eager eyes I greet the morn,
Exultant as a boy,
Knowing that I am newly born
To wonder and to joy.
And when the sunset splendours wane
And ripe for rest am I,
Knowing that I will live again,
Exultantly I die.
O that all Life were but a Day
Sunny and sweet and sane!
And that at Even I might say:
"I sleep to wake again."
 
Merry Christmas, everyone! Thank you for your poems @ohioboy and @OregonGuy!

Christmas

Feeling grateful for the blessing
of Jesus's birth
this day, today,
for all the world to witness
for all the world to see.

Feeling grateful for His love
that overflows,
forever and ever,
giving us a new life
giving us a new hope.

Feeling grateful for His grace
that fills our hearts
and joins us to Him,
one breath, one love,
to eternity.

P.A. 12/25/24
 
I've had a wonderful time with my son's visit these past couple of weeks for the holidays! Almost every other day, we go out to the mall, eat at a restaurant, watch a movie, etc. We've been to church several times, and I met with old friends that I hadn't seen in a while. Church is an hour away, and I had stopped going because of the distance, but with my son, we were able to drive down there and back, with a stop at Barnes&Noble, where we sat at their cafe, read books, and indulged in their refreshments.

My Son's Visit for the Holidays

It's been a lot of fun,
and I can't remember
feeling this happy
in a long time.
Going to church together, walking in the mall, eating out
at different restaurants, and watching movies
have filled my days with good feelings.
Our Christmas dinner included
baked lamb, succulent and tasty,
with small, round potatoes,
baked eggplant, bell peppers,
mushrooms, and grape tomatoes slathered in
olive oil and lemon juice, sweet potatoes sprinkled
with cinnamon, spinach pie, cranberry jelly, dips, and salad.
Our New Year's dinner was just
as tasty.
Now,
my sunroom has become
my breakfast room, and we
sit in the mornings
eating homemade vasilopita bread,
omelet, sausage, and blueberries,
and chatting about almost
everything, and although
the view is a winter scene,
it's amazing to see nature
unfolding in all its glory.
The bare trees, fir trees, and Pampas grass
sway in the wind,
while a lone bird flies
to the nearby tree, chirping along,
unaware of our presence.
Maybe it's hoping Spring is
around the corner.
I watch the bird fly away,
reminding me that my son, too,
will fly away soon,
and leave behind beautiful
memories that I will cherish
when he is gone.
I hope one day after he marries,
to increase our family gatherings
and I'll watch my grandchildren joining
in the fun of our traditional
Christmas holiday.

P.A. Jan. 2, 2025
 
Last edited:
palides2021 said:
I've had a wonderful time with my son's visit these past couple of weeks for the holidays! Almost every other day, we go out to the mall, eat at a restaurant, watch a movie, etc. We've been to church several times, and I met with old friends that I hadn't seen in a while. Church is an hour away, and I had stopped going because of the distance, but with my son, we were able to drive down there and back, with a stop at Barnes&Noble, where we sat at their cafe, read books, and indulge in their refreshments.

My Son's Visit for the Holidays

It's been a lot of fun,
and I can't remember
feeling this happy
in a long time.
Going to church together, walking in the mall, eating out
at different restaurants, and watching movies
have filled my days with good feelings.
Our Christmas dinner included
baked lamb, succulent and tasty,
with small, round potatoes,
baked eggplant, bell peppers,
mushrooms, and grape tomatoes slathered in
olive oil and lemon juice, sweet potatoes sprinkled
with cinnamon, spinach pie, cranberry jelly, dips, and salad.
Our New Year's dinner was just
as tasty.
Now,
my sunroom has become
my breakfast room, and we
sit in the mornings
eating homemade vasilopita bread,
omelet, sausage, and blueberries,
and chatting about almost
everything, and although
the view is a winter scene,
it's amazing to see nature
unfolding in all its glory.
The bare trees, fir trees, and Pampas grass
sway in the wind,
while a lone bird flies
to the nearby tree, chirping along,
unaware of our presence.
Maybe it's hoping Spring is
around the corner.
I watch the bird fly away,
reminding me that my son, too,
will fly away soon,
and leave behind beautiful
memories that I will cherish
when he is gone.
I hope one day after he marries,
to increase our family gatherings
and I'll watch my grandchildren joining
in the fun of our traditional
Christmas holiday.

P.A. Jan. 2, 2025
Click to expand...
I Loved hearing about your wonderful holiday, Patty.

vasilopita bread
Click to expand...
I looked it up, sounds delicious!
 
RadishRose said:
I Loved hearing about your wonderful holiday, Patty.


I looked it up, sounds delicious!
Click to expand...
Thanks, @RadishRose! I toyed with the idea of explaining what vasilopita bread was but decided not to because I didn't
know if there would be enough interest. It is a rich bread that includes butter, milk, and 6 eggs. We place a coin wrapped in aluminum foil in the dough, and whoever gets the slice has good luck for the year. Happy New Year!
 
At 18/19 and still at home, life was suffocating me. Sister had taken off for Canada ; brother had left with new girlfriend ; most of my close friends had left - there was only one survival point it seemed - get out. I did and Pa told me later mother cried herself to sleep for three months OMG. Ma was controlling and needy and could be a sweet dear thing at times - but not all the time.

I saw her many times later but when Pa died she sorta fell apart and instead of stepping in and supporting I departed for HK briefly and then Oz - I never saw her live again. Why am I recounting and recalling - because of all that has just gone before - we all have trigger points don't we?
 
Last edited:
smiley said:
very touching and warming and very genuine - atmospheric too - I could see [imagine] and feel what was happening - almost like watching a rich warm documentary!
Click to expand...
Thank you, @smiley! I appreciate your kind words.
smiley said:
At 18/19 and still at home, life was suffocating me. Sister had taken off for Canada ; brother had left with new girlfriend ; most of my close friends had left - there was only one survival point it seemed - get out. I did and Pa told me later mother cried herself to sleep for three months OMG. Ma was controlling and needy and could be a sweet dear thing at times - but not all the time.

I saw her many times later but when Pa died she sorta fell apart and instead of stepping in and supporting I departed for HK briefly and then Oz - I never saw her live again. Why am I recounting and recalling - because of all that has just gone before - we all have trigger points don't we?
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing, @smiley!
 
New Year Diet :rolleyes:

From selection box to lettuce leaves, no biscuits, how my heart grieves

Roast potatoes, yorkshire puds, have been replaced with healthy goods

Fish, chicken plus lots of fruit, and alcohol's been given the boot

No drinking vodka, listening to ballads, just Keep Fit DVD's and salads

No cakes or pies, oh what a bummer, but I'll be glad of it come summer.....:cool:
 
Last edited:
Wren said:
New Year Diet :rolleyes:

From selection box to lettuce leaves, no biscuits, how my heart grieves

Roast potatoes, yorkshire puds, have been replaced with healthy goods

Fish, chicken plus lots of fruit, and alcohol's been given the boot

No drinking vodka, listening to ballads, just Keep Fit DVD's and salads

No cakes or pies, oh what a bummer, but I'll be glad of it come summer.....:cool:
Click to expand...
Thank you, @Wren, for this lovely poem! I can relate to the message in this poem!
 
Wow. I didn't realize how long it's been since I've been here. So many things have happened since January. My sister who lived in Greece and had been battling stage 4 cancer for many years, had a heart-attack around the holidays and her health went downhill after that. Her kidney stopped working and she had to go on dialysis. Then she bounced back and they moved her to rehab, then she got worse and they moved her to the hospital again. She had a collapsed lung toward the end - only for her to get Covid, which ruined any chances of survival. She gave her last breath the beginning of April.

The poor girl suffered, and her husband is devastated. They were married 50 years. She was a bright, cheerful, beautiful person that brought joy to everyone. When she left, she took her joy with her. May she Rest In Peace. Still trying to process all of this.
 
someone asked me recently - what would you like to do again ? - start all over at 16 I said and just care about my family and minister to them everyday - because that's what they did to me for 16 years and then I left home and it was never the same - bro and sis had gone too and Ma and Pa were left alone to grieve - that was cruel
 
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