Shortest Day of the Year

 

 

All o’ that fuss

And the day is gone,

It will never be repeated

In the beyond.

 

Shortest 24 hours

Christmas lovers will agree

Whether one spends it quietly

Or go on a spree.

 

I am for the quiet kind

On account of my age,

I prefer a stay-at-home Christmas

At my brittle stage.

 

Either way I repeat

Christmas is far too short

But be grateful for its meaning

I do exhort.

 

 

 

Heaven on earth

In the person of love,

Sent to us that first Christmas

From above.

 

Pagan, some say,

I shout “No, God!”

Emmanuel meaning God with us

Here and abroad.

 

It’s the shortest day

Yet an eternity

When one gets past the fun

And frivolity.

 

It lasts forever

In the believer’s heart:

The one that was born-again

From the very start.

 

Not superficiality

But God deep within,

Having sent His begotten Son

To save us from sin.

 

Thus, Christmas extends

Throughout the year

With its very special celebration

On Christmas Day.

 

This one has gone

But another will beckon

And so, all like now I look forward

To the next one.

 

However, I thank God

I have seen this one,

It’s my seventy second Christmas

And yes, it is gone.

 

The melancholy is not

Like in years gone by

But to say I am not missing it

Would be a lie.

 

The day was too short

But I fully enjoyed it

On account of the indwelling

Of Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

‘Tis the real meaning

Of Emmanuel,

God is with me every single day

And not for a spell.

 

Herein is the difference

I’d finally say,

The Christ of Christmas is with me

Every single day.

 

Stewart Russell © December 26, 2025

 

Thanks for Today

 

 

I thank God for today’s gift:

Today’s gift is called today,

As I contemplate this precious gift

There’s much I have to say.

 

We take tomorrow for granted

And we stake its claims today

As though tomorrow is guaranteed

Especially, if today we pray.

 

But tomorrow is never promised

And it never comes any way

So, I am all the more thankful

That God has given me today.

 

We take today for granted

As though to it we are entitled

But receiving it with thankful hearts

To me is particularly vital.

 

There are many alive today

But they are not even aware;

They are lying on a hospital bed

Not knowing they are there.

 

Some of these are comatose

Some in a drug ridden state,

Some are in a drunken stupor

But none can to today relate.

 

 

So, to know that today is today

For me is a precious benefit

And to display an attitude of thanks

Should be everybody’s habit.

 

Father, I give You thanks

For allowing me to see today,

Help me never to take it for granted

Or abuse it any way.

 

Stewart Russell © August 2020

77 777

 

 

One seven, two sevens,

Three sevens then four,

If five sevens make up a row

What is the score?

 

If seven is the perfect number

Five times this is it,

Seventy-seven thousand, seven hundred seventy-seven-

The number of blog hits.

 

Today on my blog

That’s the number that showed up,

I know with God in charge

This is more than mere luck.

 

I take none of the credit

It all belongs to God,

It is He that inspires

It is He I applaud. 

 

I thank God for this talent

He has given to me

And to use it for His glory

Is my ministry.

 

I am honoured to serve Him,

My Lord and my King

And any witness I can render

To His service I bring.

 

I also thank all of you

For supporting this blog,

You, the readers have made it

An enjoyable job.

 

 

I will continue to write

As long as God lends me breath,

Meanwhile, to all and sundry,

I wish you happiness and health.

 

Stewart Russell © April 29, 2021

 

No Complaining, Please

 

 

From a prolonged heat wave

To this everyday rain

But I’ll tell you what,

You won’t hear me complain.

 

From raging high temperatures

To temperate days

And the nights are beautiful

In so many ways.

 

Less electricity usage

For the fans there’s little need,

Please do not complain

That would be ungrateful indeed.

 

Complaints galore

During the time of the heat,

Now you are getting the rain

No complaints, I repeat.

 

 

It was becoming a problem

With water levels running low,

Some reservoirs were almost empty

So severe was the blow.

 

It was a terrible drought

And the vegetation was brown

With the farmers praying

For the rain to come down.

 

Well, come down it has

So, please do not complain,

I am over the moon in happiness

Since the coming of the rain.

 

I am still bareback

Although I don’t need to be,

The rains have come in

And I am in my glee.

 

  

No “Rain-rain go away

And come back another day”,

No! “Rain-rain stay with us,

It’s so much better this way”.

 

Fill up the aquifers

And all of the reservoirs

And if I hear any complaints

That will mean war.

 

I know that for some people

Complaining is a fashion

But let praise and thanks to God

Become our passion.

 

It is He that gave us the sun

And also the rain,

So bajans, wherever you are,

Please do not complain.

 

Stewart Russell © October 31, 2020