Category: Gratitude

Christmas Memories

by Lucy M. Young

photo by Anton Scherbakov on Unsplash
I would give everything I have or ever hope to have
If I could but return to yesteryear
And Christmas as it used to be when I was young
By ordinary standards we were poor.
But we didn't know it
Money was a very scarce commodity.
Not knowing what it was, we didn't miss it;
For we were truly rich beyond compare in all the things that matter
We had love and understanding,
Security from cold and hunger.
We were content with what we had.
Our world was beautiful, our happiness complete.
Our home was filled with so much love and Christmas spirit
That I can almost taste it even now.

We never made a Christmas list
Nor asked for any special thing.
But waited with such glad anticipation for Christmas morning
To find our home-made gifts beneath the tree,
And see the joy on the faces of our loved ones
When they received the things we'd made for them.

Memories come crowding back
Of snow and sparkling, starry nights;
The one large Christmas star which shone above the mountains
in the East
Bringing in the tree and trimming it;
The cold clean smell of balsam
Spicy smells of Christmas goodies baking in the kitchen,
Smiling faces, happy hearts, excited chatter;
Oyster stew on Christmas Eve;
Oranges and nuts and shiny red-cheeked apples;
Candy bags upon the branches of the tree;
Mother at the organ playing Christmas Carols
While we gathered 'round her singing joyously.

Santa Claus was just a pleasant character like Mother Goose
or Cinderella's fairy godmother.
We knew what Christmas really meant -
The birthday of our Lord.
We knew our gifts came from each other
In memory of His birth.

Dear Lord, I'd give all I possess
If I could just have one more Christmas as it used to be
With all the warmth and love and joy and peace
But I do thank you most sincerely for these precious memories
Of Christmas day at home so long ago.

The Tree

by Lucy M. Young

photo by Eric Muhr on Unsplash
From a tiny seed it grew
Day by day, year by year
Until today it is a lovely tree
Overlooking fields and streams
Houses and streets
Magnificent in its size and graceful shape.
Standing strong and brave against stormy weather
Year after year it stands
Impervious to heat and cold
Putting to shame our petty grumblings
It beautifies bare landscape
Lifting leafy arms in adoration
And gratitude to the power and glory of our Heavenly Father

Maker of all things beautiful
We thank you, Lord, for trees
And the joy and pleasure they bring
To a weary world.

Autumn

by Lucy M. Young

photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
The leaves are turning gold and crimson,
Sure sign that summer's drying,
Asters and chrysanthemums are blooming everywhere;
Spreading apple trees and grapevines
Laden with their ripening bounty
Of luscious fruit, their perfume fills the air.
Flocking birds are swiftly gathering,
Daily feeding on the plenitude
Of seeds and berries in the woods and fields.
Days are bright and warm and sunny,
Nights are clear and cool and frosty,
The air is crisp and clean like sparkling wine;
Drinking deeply of their vintage 
We're with grateful hearts rejoicing
In the glory of the Master's great design.

I Asked the Lord

by Lucy M. Young

photo by Neil Thomas on Unsplash
I asked the Lord to walk with me,
And everywhere He walks with me,
He guards my every step.
I asked Him then to hold me up,
Where'er I go He holds me up,
He does not let me fall.

I asked that He might give me strength
To face whatever each day brings
Of weakness, doubt or fear;
I asked for Him to be my guide
Through days of pain and sleepless nights,
He makes my way secure.

'Though there be days when things go wrong
And my burden seems too much to bear
I know He's by my side.
His love sustains me constantly,
His strength supports my faltering steps,
He is my guiding light

My Greatest Gift

by Lucy M. Young

God gave me a loving family
  And many friends who care
Good neighbors that I might not be alone
  And lots of love to share.

He gave me a home in the country
  And pure fresh country air
Cool green trees that touch the sky
  The music of birds in the air.

He gave me sunshine and gentle rain
  Sweet flowers kissed with dew
But I didn't realize how blest I am
  Until He gave me you.

Lucy wrote, "For Ruth after she did so much work on my house, cleaning, painting. I can never thank her enough."  I hope she knew that this poem was way more thanks than I deserved. Love you, Auntie

Counting My Blessings

by Lucy M. Young
Counting my blessings, one by one,
Thanking my Lord for every one.
There are so many I fall asleep,
Relaxed and resting in slumber deep.

I'm blessed with a family, loving and caring,
Friends and neighbors willingly sharing
Their love and their time with me any day,
Whenever I need them come what may.

I thank you, God, for clean fresh air,
For the beauties of nature everywhere;
For food and clothing, shelter and then
I thank you and praise you all over again.

So what if my car is dented and rusty?
It starts when I need it, my faithful old "trusty;"
And what if my coat is four years old?
It's warm and it shields me from winter's cold.

And what if my steps are faltering and slow
And I need a crutch wherever I go?
I can walk, and that's the important thing.
So I'm thanking you, God, with the praises I sing.

Maybe my ears aren't as sharp as they were?
I can hear a bird's song and a kitten's soft purr.
If my eyes tend to blur when I use them too long,
I can see your fair world, glorious sunsets and dawn.

So I count my blessings and fall asleep,
Knowing my Saviour a vigil will keep
'Til I wake to a bright, new, rosy dawn
With a soul at peace and a heart full of song.



photo by Mohammed Nohassi on Unsplash

Never Alone

by Lucy M. Young

Once I wandered alone and lonely,
 My heart was empty and cold;
There seemed to be nothing to live for,
 Nothing to which I could hold.

Then one day He spoke to me softly,
 I didn't hear Him at first;
But slowly and gently He entered my heart,
 My soul was no longer accursed

With emptiness, bitterness, sadness -
 They'd been driven out by His love.
I rejoiced in my new-found freedom
 Given me by my Father above.

Lord, I come to you now in thanksgiving
 For the many blessings you've given;
I am never alone, for I walk each day
 With my wonderful Father in Heaven.



photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash

Rain in the Night

by Lucy M. Young
Soft and soothing,
Sleep-inducing -
   Quiet music in the night;
Window-spattering,
Softly pattering -
   Gentle showers in the night.

Ripping, tearing,
Lightning flaring,
   Causing sudden, chilling fright;
Heavy downpour,
Deafening roar,
   Thundershowers in the night.

Softer, glaring,
Soothing, scaring,
   No matter how the rain may fall;
Tame or wild,
Rough or mild,
   Earth gratefully absorbs it all.

Sun and rain,
Joy and pain,
   Into each life some rain must fall;
The Lord of love,
High above,
   Guides us gently through it all.


photo by Valentin Muller on Unsplash

A Prayer for the Homeless

by Lucy M. Young

When I awoke this morning, Lord,
And looked out at your beautiful world,
I thought of the other nations on earth
Whose banners of war are unfurled;
While here the morning songs of the birds
Brought music into my room;
And a softly whispering spring-time breeze
Held the scent of lilacs in bloom.

While I enjoyed the quiet peace
Of my little country home,
I thought of the homeless far and near
Who have been condemned to roam
In search of a place to call their own,
No matter how humble it be -
Just a tiny spot to make their home
From war and tyranny free.

Help them find it, Lord - a place of their own -
Secure and safe from fear.
Let them know the joy of freedom and peace,
The assurance that you are near.
Let them settle down with their families and friends,
Let their children romp in the sun;
May they never again know the terrors of war
Or hear the sound of a gun.

photo by Fares Hamouche on Unsplash