Christmas Baby

 

I am a Christmas baby

Regarding my birth

And please do not think

This was my first day on earth.

 

I was not born

On a Christmas day,

Oh no my cherished reader,

Not in that way.

 

Date and day

Is not important here

But the fact that I know

Brings me good cheer.

 

I am born again

Making me God’s child,

I dare to follow Jesus Christ

Meek and mild.

Jesus’ birth

On that first Christmas day

Opened my eyes to the fact

That he is the way.

 

And when I said yes

To God’s will and His way

I became a Christmas baby

From that very day.

 

It has nothing to do

With a festival

And what is more important,

It is not even seasonal.

 

It is all year round

In the country and the town,

I once was lost

But now I am found.

 

Jesus is the reason

For the Christmas season

And when he is left out of it,

It’s worse than treason.

 

 

I am a Christmas baby

But by my spiritual birth

And it’s all because one day

Jesus came to earth.

 

You can argue

All you like

As to the season

Or whether day or night.

 

But this I know

And am convinced the more

That I am a Christmas baby

And that is for sure.

 

Stewart Russell © December 16, 2024

 

My Favourite Times

 

 

In any given year

I have my favourite times,

Those times I eagerly anticipate

Are always on my mind.

 

My birthday is not one

Maybe because I am old,

Thank God I don’t look too bad

As far as what I am told.

 

Photos don’t convince me

And neither does the mirror,

I am beginning to show my age

But this is not a horror.

 

 

Good Friday and Easter

Are definitely on the list,

Jesus’ death and resurrection

Surely, I could not miss.

 

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

For me hold little hype,

I’d much rather Family Days;

I’m the family type.

 

Valentine, the lover’s day,

Is full of eroticism,

Rather, it should depict Agape Love:

Love that is from heaven.

 

 

 

Well it seems, at least to me,

I am missing out two,

I have left these for the last

And now I will share with you.

 

I’ll start with the lesser first

Though you may disagree,

However, it is my favourite times

And according to what I see.

 

The runner up on my list

Is Independence Day,

I am taken back to my childhood

And the old fashion way.

 

 

I get a thrill looking back

And how we used to do things,

Add to this, if you will,

The songs we used to sing.

 

Look how far we have come!

It didn’t start yesterday

But back over hundreds of years;

Let’s call it yesteryear.

 

The highlight of community

And the little with content,

Each one helping out the other one

Is what neighbourly meant.

 

 

The joys enjoyed together

And the pains mutually shared,

A vision not overly cosmetic

But for the future geared.

 

Much of which is being dropped

For the shadow of the bone

And many blanking community

Preferring to go it alone.

 

How I love Independence

And anticipate it every year!

Like a child filled with excitement

When his gift finally appears.

And this leads to number one

Which is Christmas time,

A season that is far too short for me

And is always on my mind.

 

 

Christmas is my favourite

For a number of obvious reasons,

After all, it is that time of the year

We have the goodwill season.

 

The celebration of Jesus’ birth

The one known as Emanuel

That came from heaven to earth

And with man did dwell.

 

 

The lights and the carols

The bounty and the sharing,

The decorations and pleasantries

And people caring.

 

Unto us a child was born

Unto us a Son was given,

Christmas is my favourite time

Reminding me of heaven.

 

 

One in the month of November,

The other in December

And the fact that they are so close

Should bring us all together.

 

Stewart Russell © November 14, 2023

 

Granny at Christmas Time Part 1

Uh eat me last two conkies

And then me burp

Uh wash them down

Wid a pint glass of syrup

Uh went to de kitchen

And me wash out de glass

Uh was real excited

Christmas was coming fast

Uh here in me eighties

And uh still getting excited

When it come to Christmas

I does still be delighted

I does mek plans for it too

Doan mek no sport

I doan have much teet’

But uh still like me pork

I got a special plate

I does tek down from early

And I does put it dey

To hold de turkey

Dis plate real large

I en shame to tell you

And I got a nice pyrex dish

That uh does keep fuh de stew

Wunnah asking ‘bout ham?

Wuh I does got dat too

Nuh Christmas widout ham

Dah is still my view

Dese days uh just drinking plus

And sometimes ginger ale

Not dem eflorescent drinks

At my age dem fail

I doan eat much carbohydrates

But de vegetables uh like

Brockley, carrots and beans

Dem is still my delight

  

Partically now uh getting old

I does tink ‘bout me healf

And uh en doing nuttin foolish

Cause uh live at meself

Uh see you set up yuh face

Like yuh sufferin’ wid shock

Uh en in nuh nursing home

And uh en leffing dis spot

Old is in de nineties

And I en quite dey yet

So as far as I am concern

I still wid de young set

I got a nice frock dey

Dah is fuh Christmas morning

I must be sitting in de front

When de morning dawning

And uh pray dat said morning

De old pastor gine preach

He old and forgetful

But he does still preach sweet

I like to hear ‘bout de nativity

‘Bout Jesus coming to earth

And just in case wunna forget

Jesus had a birth

De Bible tell me

That he did born in Bethlehem

Some tink it foolish

But I does still tell dem

I feel so good dis morning

At muh getting old age

Dat muh head still good

And uh could turn to de page

Right in St Luke chapter 2

De Bible tell me

Evuhting ‘bout de baby Jesus

And de nativity

He was born in a stable

Duh wasn’t nuh room in de inn

Just like many hearts today

Nuh room pun account of sin

Nuh time fuh Jesus

Nuh room in dem hearts

But I praise God for de chance

When I did mek a new start

I am partically sure

‘Bout all that Christmas mean

And pun Christmas morning

Does refresh that scene

So I must get to church

And I must be at de front

I must hear dat old preacher

On de nativity account

After dat any number can play

As long as it Christian-like

I will go in Queens Park

And enjoy de sights

Uh gine stop here now

Cause uh getting old

Uh hope uh could come back

‘Cause there’s more to be told

Uh gine try to get back in

But in case uh doan get back

Focus on de nativity scene

And you’ll be right on track

Stewart Russell © December 2018

December, the Icing on the Cake

Sometimes I wonder

Which month I like the best

Just then there is December

And February first among the rest.

March is ranked very highly

And so too are April and May

But right at the top of my list

Comes December with Christmas day.

In these there are celebrations

Of my household family members

But the icing on the cake

Oh, that is certainly December

Like a child I anticipate

The coming of the Christmas season

But as an adult I appreciate

That Jesus is the reason.

There is much discussion

Concerning the day of his birth

But far more important

Is the fact he came to earth.

Born of a lowly virgin

From a family of little repute

His teaching and even his miracles

Was cause for great dispute.

The celebration of his birth

Makes December my best month

For the coming of Jesus Christ

Turned my defeat into triumph.

December for the merchant

Is a bumper Christmas sales time

But for all the born again

It is the renewing of our mind.

December for the rum drinker

May be another free drink

But for the genuine Christian

It is a time to reflect and think.

  

December for the little child

Means a new and exciting toy

But for the one that has been saved

It’s a great and wonderful joy.

December for the reveller

Means a chance to revel again

But for the Christian believer

It points to the Saviour’s pain.

You can argue if you wish

Concerning the month and day

But if Jesus is not your reason

You are going the wrong way.

Let this therefore be the year

That you will always remember:

For the fact of your rebirth

Let it happen this December.

Though it’s the end of the year

It could be a new beginning for you:

New ideas and a brand new outlook

And an entirely different view.

May this December for you

Be the proverbial icing on the cake,

This month of great spiritual importance

Let it be your new birth date.

Stewart Russell © December 2018