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
