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Saying Goodbye to the Month

of January – Where some of our

Jouneys begin!

It is a difficult road

I have taken on this
road to heaven

My load is heavy and
I am forsaken

Preachers, teachers

friends
I look to all of them
to help me get in

Holding my thumb up
high

hoping for a ride

They wish me well and
pass me by
I don’t know how long
I can do this
I cry, I weep

all the rules I keep

Run and run, busy, busy

Every day I confess
What more can I do?

Throwing up my hands I
quit – There is
nothing!
IT IS A GIFT!

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“For it is by Grace we are saved
It is a gift” Book of Ephesians

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I’ve stored many garments
in the closet of time
Ones of worry and concern
that did not fit me well
I have tried to mend them
but my thread is too fine
and my needle too dull

My doubts interfere and I
fear for my body a lack
of clothes 👚
When in the distance a field
of lilies beckon me
“We never toil, nor spin our cloth
Yet in fine linen and
gold we are finely dressed”
“Do not be afraid, for a robe
of faith will be given that
fits you well” 😋

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---

BLUE violets, withered,
trodden undefoot by the
offenders boot
their spirits crushed their
voices hushed

As I cry questioning
why I am reminded they
have forgiven and so must I!

AND until they rise from
their dusty tombs weeping

violets sleep
until once again they bloom!

The 3rd Sunday of January
Embraces the Sanctity of
every Human Life.
Could the abuse and neglect
of children also be
included as well?

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They climbed the paths
of crooked roads

With dusty sandals and
painful soles
A group of weary ones
Trod on to their city
of Jerusalem
And the temple of God

With each ascent pausing
for prayer and joyful
song

May we not forget in
our journey here below
To return to this
staircase when the way
is difficult and we cannot
see ahead – Pausing to
reflect –

“You don’t have to see
the whole staircase
Just take the first step”

---

The 15 ‘Song of Ascents’
is found in the Book of
Psalms Chapter 120-134

IN lands far and near in our

quest for peace, our lives
are touched with the pain
and sorrow of our fellowmen

FOR does not the same sun
that shines on our backs
shine on thiers as well?

OUR same moon glows on
their sleep

THE same ocean waves
throb and beat

AS we pray for PEACE!
LIFE goes on until time
empties into space

FOR after all between
life and death isn’t this
just a stopping place?

THERE ARE SO MANY!

SOME are sad
SOME weep
SOME have needles
THAT puncture
AND bleed
WINTER trees that
SHIVER and shake
AS they sleep
AND others offer a
HOME to creatures
IN need
THOSE that grow
GOOD things to
Eat
AND then I think
A tree planted by
Rivers
AND streams –
WITH roots
Reaching wide
AND deep
HELPING others
Through
THE storms of life
IS the ONE I might
LIKE to BE!
IF – I ‘COULD’ Be A Tree!🌲

---

In a frozen earth
Under a mantle of snow

January is born of

December
In a cold dreary world
Winter storms blow

Not a leaf or blossom
grows
But January knows

if not for her

Spring would surely

tarry
And not come at

ALL!

I came across a tree that was
lifeless and had no purpose
that I could see
And I thought and wondered why
had not someone taken pity and
cut it down before it died?

And then one day as I walk by
a flutter of wings by me
fly
And to my surprise upon a limb
some caring one had hung a
feeder of seed and bread
hidden from the sun
Yellow birds
Black birds
Red and white ones as well
all are fellows dining as one

And to me new life the tree
seems to receive
And I am given hope
– When I feel helpless as a tree
left half dead
– Broken limb by limb
– Until it seems from me
all life has fled

Like a tree cut down I can
sprout again!
Am I not as a beggar telling
other beggars where to find
bread?

Or will I like a careless neighbor
by a tree that seems dead to me
walk right on by?

“For there is hope for a tree
when it is cut down that
it will sprout again”
Book of Job

Upon my frosty windowsill

A snowbird sings a cheerful

Song

Tugging at my heart

Strings

“He meant no wrong
But

No longer could he
Stay
Happiness he now

Has found

No pills nor drink taint

His lips

His fears and doubts

Escaped

And then from the
Windowsill

Saying goodbye he

flies away
Singing

‘Stephen’s Song’

“Don’t grieve for me my

Unbarred cage has set me
Free”

Here below no longer are his

Footprints in the snow!

In memory of Stephen Nieri
January 3, 1968 – July 7, 2011

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

🌐 ‘A Winter Solstice Blessing‘ 🌐
(c) 2025 dnieri