The Christmas Poems Jim and Gerry Heter
The Season of Darkness The Christmas Message
The Story of Christmas
The World of Dreams
The Road Taken
The Masks of God
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Millennium Christmas 2000 Christmases
‘Tis the Time
A time of turmoil
Separations
Three Gifts -------------------------------------------------------------Christmas 1985
The Season of Darkness approaches, The time of diminishing light; The hours of daylight are dwindling To bring us the year's longest night.
Tis now that our outlook is bleakest, Tis now that our thoughts tend to dwell On the things that we haven't accomplished, On the plans that have not worked out well.
And yet, in this Season of Darkness, While Natural life nearly ends, Our Culture calls up extra effort, And asks us to think of our friends.
The Spirit of Christmas reminds us, As Life nears its annual low, That soon there will follow a New Birth; The sap will again start to flow.
So listen again to the Message, The promise that Love brings Rebirth, And pass it along to your loved ones; With Good Will, there is still Hope on Earth.
The Christmas Message
As the longest of nights approaches In this chilliest time of the year, Remember the Christmas message And keep up your Christmas cheer.
For the longest night will be followed By the dawning of Christmas morn When the ancient traditions tell us That Life and Hope are reborn.
So pass this along to your loved ones As it has been passed on to you: If we love and help one another Our Christmas dreams will come true. Christmas 1986
The Story of Christmas is told every year And everyone knows the refrain; How the wise and the innocent both came to hear That Hope was reborn once again.
The Story of Christmas is known to all men, Though many don't use the same name, But each time it's told we recall once again The reason why all of us came.
The Story of Christmas, we ever recall, Is a story of what we can be. We each have a part to play, no part is small; Played well, it will set our souls free.
Christmas 1994The World of Dreams
’Tis Christmastime again, a time of year when special thoughts of loved-ones who are gone from us in time, or simply far away may sadden us and bring a little tear and make us feel a little more alone to think they won’t be with us on that day.
Although such thoughts may lessen our good cheer ’tis Christmas also turns our hearts to One whose guiding Spirit never goes away. Just so, though we be miles or years apart, in spirit loved ones stay with us, it seems, and we will be together in the heart and visit with them in the world of dreams.
Christmas 1995Santa Claus has many faces, Many names in many places.
He dresses in all sorts of clothes, The red suit is just one of those.
But thin or fat or short or tall One thing's the same for Santas all,
They bring a special kind of cheer Into our hearts this time of year
With hopes that everyone will share Their love for people everywhere
And faith the gift such love is worth Is hope reborn for peace on Earth.
Christmas 1996The Road Taken
Life is a road, it seems. Each step I tread turns into road behind from road ahead.
Behind I see the ways my path has wound, each step I took while I was this way bound. I see, too, other ways it might have led had I but picked some different path to tread.
Sometimes it seems life might have been more fun had I more often picked a down-hill run, but those all left me struggling in some mire; the good paths were the ones that took me higher.
So I've learned to avoid the easy way and keep on climbing upward, come what may. Best forge ahead with some tall peak in mind, however far away or hard to find.
Christmas 1997The Masks of God
Mankind has known philosophers and saints, Sages and prophets, since the dawn of time.
These men drink deeply from the well of awe, Submerge themselves in spiritual things, And then proclaim they've seen the face of God.
Such men gain followers to their beliefs, Priesthoods who preach their God to other men And bid them bow to images they make.
Such images are many, none are true, They are but masks of God, aspects at best.
If you would truly know the God of men, Turn from such idols and know that you see A mask of God in every human face.
Christmas 1998An Old-Fashioned Christmas
If you long for an old-fashioned Christmas with family and friends gathered 'round with a yule-log ablaze in the fireplace and outside all snow-covered ground,
You can go with us back to New England when the snow-fall has come, cold and deep, where ever are hearts warm and loving and there's peace in each long winter sleep.
That's why we’ll go back to New England for some old-fashioned Christmas-time cheer; you'll be there in our hearts all through Christmas and all through the happy new year.
Christmas 1999
Millennium Christmas
Two thousand Christmases ago a child for this millennium was born in tiny Bethlehem two thousand Christmases ago.
Two thousand Christmases have passed since Jesus brought his gift to men. His gift has only grown since then although two thousand years have passed.
Two thousand Christmases may come and still his gift of love shall grow as long as good men will it so two thousand Christmases to come.
Two thousand Christmases ago a child was born in Bethlehem. Remember, this millennium, and by your will his gift shall grow.
2000 Christmases
2000 toy soldiers 2000 twinkling stars 2000 Christmas trees 2000 toy cars.
2000 good tidings wrapped up with tiny bows 2000 fruit cakes, you know where they go.
2000 Christmas blessings amid 2000 cheers wishing all of you and yours 2000 happy new years. Christmas 2000
‘Tis the Time
‘Tis time to sing old songs of yuletide cheer, To trim the trees and hang the Christmas lights In fond anticipation of the nights That celebrate the turning of the year.
A season ends and Christmas love abounds, And calendars proclaim a New Year’s start, While joy and laughter gladden every heart As friends and family gather all around.
Together we recall the year that’s past And ponder what the year to come may bring, Enjoying as we do each small good thing And hope to make each moment’s treasure last.
The while we all in true abundance give Our good will and our wish that peace may live.
Christmas 2001
A time of turmoil darkens this year’s close And many lives have met an early end. Yet these events have brought us close to those Who in years past we’d not have thought a friend.
A new civility may see its dawn; Such is the hope emerging from this day: That all will join as brothers from now on— This is our hope as silently we pray.
Inspired by the courage we have seen In those most pressed to act in time of need We face the future with a vision keen To emulate them all in our own deed,
And by this newfound bond of brotherhood To bring into the world a greater good. Christmas 2002
Separations
Separations are temporary. Connections are forever. But separations can be painful. Sometimes a separation of a moment can be as unsettling as a separation of a lifetime. Sometimes a separation of a few feet can feel like a separation of a thousand miles. But sometimes a separation of a thousand miles can feel like a separation of just a few feet. Separations are most often painful when they are unexpected, or when we feel something that needed saying was left unsaid. The pain may persist until we decide that whatever was left unsaid can wait till next time. Some of the pain of separation can come from the concern that you don’t know how the other person is getting on. When you can assure yourself that they are getting on okay, much of the pain goes away. Sometimes we meet a person we haven’t seen for years, and it is as if we’ve never been apart. Sometimes we meet a person for the first time, and it feels as if we’ve known them forever. Separations are illusions. Connections are real. Sometimes all we have to do is think of a person and the connection is instantaneous. Sometimes a visit in a dream or a message sent in prayer can be as comforting as a visit in real life. Once a connection is made it cannot be broken. Those we love are with us always. Separations are temporary. Connections are forever.
Christmas 2003
We remember our yesterdays, But live for our tomorrows. Keep your eye on the mountain. (It's not as far away as you may think.)
Christmas 2006
Three Gifts
Christmas reminds us that Adam’s gift is our ability to understand ourselves and all the creatures of Earth, that the gift of Christ is the dream that we can use Adam’s gift to fill the world with Love, and that the gift of the New Year is another chance to make this dream come true. Saint Paul in passing on the teachings of Christ spoke of faith, hope and charity.
By faith he meant belief in the grace of God, that any man's immortal soul may be redeemed.
By hope he meant belief in the possibility of redemption, and the chance to create a better future for all, with an abundance of good, and evil overcome.
By charity he meant God's unconditional love for all men and all things, and man's capacity to emulate this love.
Christmas is a time for renewal of faith and for sharing the abundance we have.
The New Year is a time for renewal of hope, renewal of abundance and the pursuit of redemption through emulation of God's charity.
May the grace of God be upon you, and bring you peace. |