Independence to Christmas

 

 

To the blue and yellow of Independence

Add the green and red for Christmas

Thus, a greater array to warm the eye

With a little more fuss.

 

From the conkies of November

To all kinds of cake at Christmas

And ham, although all the year round,

At Christmas is a must.

 

From the builders of Barbados

To the One who created life,

The Almighty God on who we can depend

For counsel and advice.

 

From Independence to Christmas

Two months of celebration,

Both very critical to our everyday life

And worthy of contemplation.

 

The former is local in its focus

The latter, for the greater good,

One was built on blood sweat and tears,

The other, on Jesus’ blood.

 

 

 

Yes, Christmas points towards

A dark Mount Calvary;

From the glitter and lights of Christmas

To Good Friday’s mystery.

 

From a Christmas tree bedecked

To a blood stained cross

Where Jesus hung for several hours

To redeem the lost.

 

From Independence to Christmas

From colonialism to freedom,

Not just the freedom of a Nation Republic

But of a heavenly kingdom.

 

Thank you, Lord, for Barbados

And for this place we call home

But most of all we are beseeching you:

Make our hearts your throne.

 

From Independence to Christmas,

November to December,

The latter long preexisted the former

This we must remember.

 

 

 

Before earth’s foundation

The first advent was planned,

Not an afterthought, like some believe

When Jesus became man.

 

Yes, in a Bethlehem cattle shed

The Christ child was born,

God, the creator of all that there is,

Took on human form.

 

Thus, the reason for Christmas,

And our Independence,

For, without the Word that created,

Nothing’s in existence.

 

Stewart Russell © December 4, 2025