We’ve Made It

 

 

We’ve made it

Through another year,

By God’s mercy and compassion

We are here.

 

We’ve made it

Though oft encumbered,

With life’s many aches and pains

And constant danger.

 

We’ve made it

Despite the naysayers

And we owe this to Jesus Christ

Our Saviour.

 

Who shepherded us

All along life’s way

And brought us back to himself

Those times we strayed.

 

 

 

We’ve made it

And conscious of it too,

We’ve got a lot to be thankful for;

Both me and you.

 

We’ve made it

God being our helper

For without him we can do nothing

Now or ever.

 

We give Him thanks

For bringing us through

And we ask His continual help

In all we have to do.

 

 

 

So, Happy New Year

To both friend and foe

Bearing in mind if considered foe

I wouldn’t know.

 

To me you are friend.

 

Stewart Russell © January 1, 2026

 

Now’s A Good Time

 

 

Now’s a good time to give thanks

Just in case you didn’t yesterday,

The worse of Storm Bret’s long past

Though the skies are still grey.

 

Yes, we had some wind and rain

But once again we were spared,

Let’s give thanks to God Almighty

For the fact we are still here.

 

A few may have received damage

Due to some falling trees

But there was no loss of limb or life

And for that we must be pleased.

 

Now’s a good time to give thanks

For consolations, not a few

And if you are reading this poem,

At least one of them is you.

 

Say a prayer for the unfortunate

And do so without judging,

Do not reflect on God as a Bajan-

It’s time to stop such fussing.

 

For God is no man’s debtor

Having never borrowed from man

Thus, never to Him ascribe partiality

As a part of His divine plan.

 

His ways are past finding out

And His thoughts are not ours,

Never must we stand in judgment

When hearing of another’s horror.

 

 

Just give thanks in everything

Even when we don’t understand

For everything works for our good

And nothing can thwart His plan.

 

Now’s a good time to give thanks

For the worst we have not seen,

All thanks to God for sparing us

From whatever could have been.

 

Our merciful and gracious Father

We praise You for this day;

For this time you have given to thank you,

We humbly and gratefully pray.

 

Stewart Russell © June 23, 2023

 

My Household

 

 

My Household is now three

My daughter got up and left,

She found a man who married her

And now she feels at rest.

 

My son, my wife and me:

That’s the three that remain,

My son can stay as long as he likes;

On me he is no strain.

 

 

And besides, wifey is happy

To have two men around

Especially since the older man

Could soon be getting down.

 

He is pretty close to 70 now:

Considered a ripe old age,

No doubt she will need some help

To help him at that stage.

 

Already he is showing signs

That senior citizens display,

But they love and have much fun

Believing that is his way.

 

  

My wife, on the other hand,

She is pretty much like before,

She keeps very close tabs on me

Especially if I go near the door.

 

Old people do walk away

And then they become lost

So, my wife is taking no chances;

She protects me at all cost.

 

She is rarely not with me

Be it at home or on the road,

And if I am without her for too long

She always sends a code.

 

My son: he goes and comes

He is as free as a honey bee

But me, the older that I become

The less I can be free.

 

Wifey has some challenges

Mostly of a physical nature,

I am not one as you are thinking-

I trust you get the picture.

 

Old age pains, I assume

Since she too is getting old,

So, not to cause her anymore stress

I plan to do as I am told.

 

My son has a balding patch

At just thirty-eight years of age

I could still boast a full head of hair

Throughout my thirties stage.

 

Into my forties and fifties

No balding patch had I,

Check my photos for around that time

And you’d never say I lie.

 

It would be hard to find one

Showing the back of my head

But you know you could trust me

And take me at what I said.

 

  

Yes, once a household of four

Now a household of three

With an extra room I can sleep in

If wifey wants to be rid of me.

 

In the meantime, I give praise,

Praise and thanks to God

For all the blessings He’s given me

And because He is my all in all.

 

Stewart Russell © June 1, 2021