Christmas Letter 2013

Christmas Letter 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Our kids and grandkids are living their dreams. Judy and I are on the road living ours. For us, life is good, especially today. These poems capture much of what we feel this year. We pray you and yours are also doing well.

In the Bleak Midwinter

by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

For many, Christmas time is bleak indeed. Many souls are joyless; many hearts are heavy; many live in fear; for many hope is lost.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him

Nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty,

Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 1:20 the angel said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” I, myself, have spent much time worrying, but not Joseph, son of David. All he did was trust, accept, and follow. it was enough for him.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim

Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk

And a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels

Fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel

Which adore.

God became flesh and the flesh became the word. Lord, how we adore thee.

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air,

But only His mother

In her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What better gift can there be than a mother’s kiss?

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what can I give Him,

Give my heart.

In my heart, would that I were like Joseph.

Little Tree

by e.e. cummings

LITTLE tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

Be not sorry to bring yourselves out of the dark, dare to shine, lift your arms, dance and sing, for Christmas celebrates the promised birth of the King of Kings.

Merry Christmas! Fric (Tim) and Frac (Judy)