Two Days to Forget

 

 

 

Forget yesterday

It does not remember you,

Worry not about tomorrow

For you haven’t a clue.

 

Today is your day

Since yesterday surely is not

And tomorrow is no guarantee

Concerning your lot.

 

Two days to forget:

Yesterday and tomorrow

For from neither, I dare say,

Not a minute you can borrow.

 

Neither the twain exists

I can assure you of that,

Yesterday has already gone

And tomorrow’s never a fact.

 

Yesterday may be a track record

You’d want to consider

But it’s better to forget it

If it brings you a shiver.

 

Tomorrow on the other hand

Is all in the mind

And has never eclipsed today

At any given time.

 

 

None can fix yesterday;

That’s an impossible feat

And tomorrow doesn’t come

So today is never complete.

 

Plan all you can

For the prospect of tomorrow

But bear in mind, my friend,

It is today that you sow.

 

Regret all you must

About yesterday’s mistakes

But there is nothing you can do

For yesterday is too late.

 

Two days to forget:

Yesterday and tomorrow

But neither the twain do we

Whether of joy or sorrow.

 

Stewart Russell © June 4, 2022

 

The Saint’s Graduation

 

Death should be a time of rejoicing

For saints, if you know what I mean,

The graduation from all of earth’s troubles

And prepared for the heavenly scene.

 

It is like any course of study,

At the end, we look forward to graduation

And for all the successful participants,

There is a culminating celebration.

 

This earth is the saint’s testing ground

It is a mixed bag of joy and sorrow,

We deal with today’s examinations

 But anticipate some more tomorrow.

 

Some of them are particularly fiery

Some, especially long and drawn out,

 Some leave us so down and distraught

That we are even inclined to doubt.

 

Yet when the death angel interrupts

We are disappointed and suffer sore,

Almost as if of life’s troubles

It would be good to suffer some more.

 

Seldom do we release our loved ones

And we gripe when they finally go,

And we treat to their home going event

As though death was their greatest foe.

 

For some the graduation exercise

Is all about doom and gloom,

And even in the case of longevity

We still say they have gone too soon.

 

Death is treated to as a monster

Even though it was the death of a saint,

And sometimes this is so overwhelming

That at the ceremony some will faint.

 

 

Death ought to be a time of rejoicing

Especially in the case of a saint

But suffice it to say I am guilty

Even though a cheerful picture I paint.

 

We sorrow at the death of a saint

And rejoice at the birth of a child,

The former is escaping earth’s troubles

While the latter, the opposite is applied.

 

Some believe it should be reversed

Given all that is really to follow,

But the vast majority, and so am I,

Find that too difficult to swallow.

 

We ought not to sorrow, the Bible says,

As those who have no hope,

For the dead in Christ will precede us

And that should help us to cope.

 

Death is the saint’s graduation

Amidst our sorrow, we should rejoice

In recognition of our loved ones’ destiny

Having made Jesus their choice.

 

Yes, sorrow for the lost affection

And be sad for the physical separation,

But rejoice that on account of redemption

We can celebrate a saint’s graduation.

 

Stewart Russell (c) September 2019

 

All Earth’s Joys

 

 

What is the greatest joy

You have experienced on earth?

Whatever that was

Must have brought great mirth.

 

Laughter and excitement

What lasting treasures!

And the unforgettable memories

That brought us pleasure.

 

But all of earth’s joys

Eventually come to an end

And that for all of us

Could be around the next bend.

 

Like our life, they are short lived

As is the withering grass

And regardless of status or position

We are all in this class.

 

All of earth’s joys

Are lined with sorrow

And for every event we enjoy

There is a pending horror.

 

So, what is your greatest joy?

Can you tell it to me?

For whatever it is I can tell you this

Its sorrow lining you will see.

 

Is it a happy marriage?

It will be marred by death,

Did you win the lottery?

Well, you will leave that wealth.

 

Of course, we do understand

It could be the other way around,

The joys set us up

But the sorrow brings us down.

 

Death is the lining of sorrow

That shadows life

In the same way that earthly peace

Is shattered by strife.

 

So whatever earthly joy we seek

After that joy comes the bleak,

Just like the summer and the winter

These changes come even as we speak.

 

It is not so in heaven, though

Whenever that time shall be,

Then will be an eternity of exceeding joy

When our Saviour, Jesus we see.

 

Stewart Russell © January 31, 2021

 

Unspeakable Joy

 

 

What is this unspeakable joy

That in God’s word is mentioned?

Is it any different from the joy

That grabs the world’s attention?

It is a peculiar joy

That rises above our suffering:

A Divine attribute that reminds us

Of the Holy Spirit’s reassuring.

Reassuring us through life

With its many ups and downs,

Giving a radiance through our suffering

Instead of a defeatist’s frown.

A joy that cannot be explained

But is effective, supportive and deep

That in the midst of our suffering

Brings us blessed sleep.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit

That grows not on any tree,

That is given to the born again

The evidence of the Trinity.

The pillow for every trial

On which to lay one’s head,

Not the spirit of depression

But unspeakable joy instead

It is the joy of the Lord

And in trials it is our strength

That encourages unshaken resolve

No matter the intensity or length.

In his epistle to the Philippians

Paul elaborates on this joy

And with confidence in the Holy Spirit

Radiated such wherever deployed.

Under house arrest it was evident

And all involved could attest,

It appears when trials came calling

The apostle was at his best.

James was also convinced

And in the book that bears his name,

To count it as joy when temptations come

Also became his refrain.

The apostle Peter highlights this joy

And combines with faith its worth,

In the first epistle and chapter 1

Have a look at the eighth verse.

Given his descriptive limitations

He refers to this joy as “unspeakable”

And as an indication of its source

“Full of glory” speaks to its Principal.

The giver of this joy is God

And it can only be had from him,

He gives it to every born again believer

To aid in our struggle against sin.

I will conclude with an ad

 To promote this unspeakable joy,

A reminder to every believer

Its motivation to employ.

Are you feeling depressed

By life’s crushing load?

Let the joy of the Lord be your strength

And whatever your trial, be bold!

Stewart Russell (c) February 2019