"Simeon & Anna"

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Here's one final poem

to close this Christmas series:

Image credit: pinterest.com

SIMEON & ANNA

 

Simeon wondered

if he were seeing things

He rubbed his tired old eyes

squinted and peered again

at the little family

that came through the Temple doors

 

The Sanctuary

was shadowy and dim

Flames from the oil lamps

were flickering—

Were his eyes playing tricks?

 

Wasn’t this an ordinary family?

…a couple like any

ordinary Jewish couple

here to present their firstborn son

holy to the Lord?

 

Nothing special about them

Just poor folk

with two lowly turtledoves

for the sacrifice…yet?

 

Perhaps this was wishful thinking

Perhaps, his imagination

He needed to be sure

Simeon moved a bit closer

 

Oh, he’d been waiting so patiently

for the fulfillment of the promise

of the Lord to comfort Israel

 

He knew He would—

for the Holy Spirit

assured him

he absolutely would not die

until he beheld the Messiah

…but that was long ago

 

Suddenly an unmistakable quickening

began rising up in his spirit…Yes!

…O Glory! Glory!

 

He bounded

toward Mary and Joseph

with arms outstretched

and swooped up

their swaddled infant son

uttering prophetic proclamations

jubilant and terrifying

 

I behold God’s salvation!

 

A light to the Gentiles

 

The glory of God’s people Israel

 

and directly to Mary, he prophesied:

 

…a sword will pierce your soul

 

She shuddered…

for she knew God had a plan, but…

What could this mean?

 

Then the widow Anna approached

Bent and grey and pious

she was a prophetess

who dwelled in the Temple

most of her life, praying

fasting and serving the Lord

with a joyful heart

 

Spontaneous praise

sprang from her lips

as she beheld the babe

Then Anna proclaimed

to all who would listen:

 

Come and see…

This is our newborn redeemer!

 

…from that day forward

Jesus grew

in wisdom and grace

 

the Cross before Him…

 

…and a sword did pierce

Mary’s soul

 

Maude Carolan Pych 

Praise the Lord!

It's because of the Cross & Resurrection

that we celebrate the Birth of Our Savior.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus!

"A Christmas Poem for 2022"

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Merry Christmas!

My brand new 2022 Christmas poem follows:

 

A CHRISTMAS POEM FOR 2022

 

It’s seven o’clock in the evening

The house is quiet

I’m sitting at the table

with my notebook open

and a pen in my hand

 

Christmas is still a few months away, but

I’m thinking about the birth of Jesus—

Hoping for an inspiration

for a Christmas poem for 2022

 

My thoughts turn to Mary—

I imagine her cradling her baby boy

Perhaps she’s singing a lullaby

perhaps she’s smiling as He coos

maybe she’s caressing His cheek

or tickling his neck, or kissing

His sleepy face

 

I don’t think she’s thinking

about how a savior saves

 

The tableau of my thoughts

is filled with heavenly peace

 

After decades pass

and His work is almost finished

Mary stands beside the Cross—

No one can imagine the depth

of her sorrow as she looks up into His eyes

 

I’m sure she isn’t thinking

about my salvation and yours

sure she isn’t thinking of her own

Mary doesn’t see the Savior of the world

Her beloved Son is dying

 

Mary’s tears are falling

Her mother heart is broken

 

God’s marvelous plan is in motion

Resurrection is coming

and so are the hallelujahs

 

Maude Carolan Pych

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

by Maude Carolan Pych,

is available online

at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

www.maudecarolanpych.net

"'Twas the Night of All Nights!"

 A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

It's Christmas Eve,

so I'm featuring a very special poem

for you to read to your children

before they go to bed tonight.

Image credit: vecteezy.com

‘TWAS THE NIGHT…OF ALL NIGHTS!

 

Children gather round. It’s time for a story,

one that’s filled with hallelujahs and glory.

 

It’s about the glorious night of all nights,

angels and magi and sight of all sights!

 

About God, a virgin, the birth of a king,

wooly sheep, poor shepherds, and gift-giving!

 

My story takes place long ago, far away

and starts with a Babe in a crib full of hay;

 

His mother’s a virgin, His father is God,

the birth, a miraculous Heavenly nod.

 

The Baby is born in a Bethlehem barn

near a few smelly animals, like on a farm.

 

Poor shepherds in a field shudder with fright

when suddenly the dark sky fills up with light

 

as beautiful angels, bright splendors winging

tell of the birth with hallelujahs and singing!

 

So, the shepherds and sheep the very next morn

set off to visit this special Newborn.

 

Rich wisemen follow a bright beaming star

to the Bethlehem barn; the journey is far.

 

They ride astride camels, carrying treasures

to give to the One they’ll worship forever.

 

Why in the world would they do such strange things?

Why travel so far? Why great treasures bring?

 

The reason is simple, the Babe in the hay

becomes the world’s Savior, Who takes sin away.

 

His name is Jesus and He loves you and me

and wants us to love Him for eternity.

 

That was the night of all nights here on Earth…

the wonderful story of Jesus’ birth!

 

Maude Carolan Pych

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

by Maude Carolan Pych,

is a book of poems

about the Birth, Death, & Resurrection of Jesus.

It is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

www.maudecarolanpych.net

 

"Oh! To Kiss the Face of God"

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Photo credit: womeninthebible.net

 OH! TO KISS THE FACE OF GOD

 

The first time

I heard, “Mary, Did You Know?”

is permanently etched in my mind

 

I was folding clothes in the bedroom

listening to “Let It Grow”

Pastor Charlie Rizzo’s

Christian call-in radio program

At a break, he introduced a Christmas song

by Mark Lowry, written by Lowry in 1984

 

Immediately, the music and lyrics

drew me in and I visualized

the young virgin-mother, Mary

cradling baby Jesus

as Lowry sang of wonders

her boy would grow to perform

wonders, like walking on water

and saving us, and even

…this child that you delivered

will soon deliver you

 

Oh! I broke out in goosebumps—

 

Mary did you know

that your baby boy will

give sight to a blind man

…calm a storm with his hand

 

and when Lowry sang

…And when you kiss your little baby

you’ve kissed the face of God

 

that did it—

Tears welled in my eyes

and trickled down my cheeks

 

Mary kissed the baby face of God!

 

Then he went on singing, Mary did you know…

that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you’re holding

is the great I Am

 

Oh! What an awesome privilege

to be the mother of the Savior

 

It was a few weeks before Christmas

Pastor Rizzo aired the song

a few more times

Each time, tears flowed

 

Soon music stations began playing the song

Sometimes it was performed

by other recording artists

 

The business manager where I worked

knew the song was meaningful to me

One day he surprised me with a gift—

the song on CD by Kenny Rogers

 

Then my daughter-in-law-to-be, Omayra,

aware of how much I loved it

arranged to have it sung

at their wedding

That was special, indeed!

 

Never has a song

touched me as that one

has touched me—

Never before have there been lyrics

I wished I’d penned myself

 

It thoroughly blesses my heart

to imagine the virgin

holding her swaddled son in her arms

oblivious to what their future would hold

putting tender lips to his tiny cheek, and

kissing…softly kissing

the holy face of God!

 

Maude Carolan Pych

PARENTS: Tomorrow I'll post a special poem for you to read to your children on Christmas Eve. It's titled, "'Twas the Night of All Nights."

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

by Maude Carolan Pych

is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

www.maudecarolanpych.net

"Cookies & Poems"

 A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Maude's homemade Christmas cookies.

COOKIES & POEMS

 

So many Christmas traditions abound—

Old ones get lost and then new ones are found.

Some get omitted, but there are a few

things we love doing and simply must do.

 

For instance, I write a poem every year—

a real Christmas poem that draws Jesus near;

a poem that lauds Him, Star of the Season,

for He’s this holiday’s only true reason.

 

The poem’s perfect paper, I search far to find,

arrange words artistically as I’ve in mind,

select address labels with the same theme,

choose envelopes, stamps that go with the scheme.

 

The pen and the ink are chosen with care.

To use best penmanship, I have a flair!

I write out hundreds with joy and much zest

and sometimes include a few words to bless.

 

Bob applies the stamps and labels and seals;

a trip to the post office completes the deal.

When they’re mailed, I start thinking cookies—

Trust me, with baking, I am no rookie!

 

We select recipes; gather the tins,

make sure there’s flour and sugar in bins,

stock up on butter and chocolate and nuts,

molasses and spices and trims lots and lots!

 

I block off a few days in my datebook,

roll up my sleeves; open up the cookbook.

Chocolate chippers, and shortbread soooo buttery,

sweet sugar cookies, anise biscotti,

 

spicy pfeffernusse and wee pecan jewels,

drop cookies, rolled cookies, some cut with tools.

Bob stirs the batters; they’re thick as can be

and he’s the chief taster, take it from me!

 

Each cookie and poem is fashioned with love—

LOVE is what Christmastime is made up of.

God’s gift of LOVE came with the Savior’s birth

and there’s no other gift of greater worth!

 

These simple gifts…some cookies, a poem,

for Christmas, to you, from our humble home.

 

Maude Carolan Pych

Maude Carolan Pych's book of poems

about the Birth, Death & Resurrection of Jesus,

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

www.maudecarolanpych.net

"Another Silent Night"

 A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

ANOTHER SILENT NIGHT

 

My friend Holly (who has a special

affinity with all things Christmas)

once gave me a picture

of Mary at the crib of Jesus—

She said the image of Mary

reminded her of one of my daughters

 

I framed the picture

and hung it on the wall

not because of any resemblance

to my daughter, but

because I was moved

by the striking look of anguish

upon Mary’s lovely face

 

This had to have been the day

Mary and Joseph went to the temple

to dedicate Jesus, the day

they offered two turtledoves

as a sacrifice for their firstborn son

 

Simeon was present when they came in

and knew immediately

by the power of the Holy Spirit

that this Child was

God’s promised Savior

 

He told Mary—

A sword will pierce your soul!

 

This silent night in Bethlehem

as Jesus lay sleeping

Mary lifts his tiny hand

to her trembling lips

She wonders about God’s marvelous plan

wonders how a Savior saves

 

and as she wonders, she feels

the point of an unseen sword

pressing against her flesh—

 

What did that wise old man mean?

 

There’s so much I do not know—

So much I do not want to know

 

tonight

 

Maude Carolan Pych

www.maudecarolanpych.net

"The Baby Next Door"

 A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Image credit: treasureboxmy.blogspot.com

THE BABY NEXT DOOR

 

I saw him the other day

the baby boy who lives next door

His parents are poor Hebrews like we are

He’s swaddled the same way we swaddle our babies

and he cries and coos just like our babies do, yet—

 

the brightest star I’ve ever seen

shines down upon him every night

and shepherds have left their fields

just to take a look at him

exclaiming all the while

about angels singing in the sky

 

Really? Angels in the sky—

 

One day I saw Wisemen from afar

dressed in finery, ride in on camels

They were bearing costly gifts to honor him

and actually bowed prostrate

before his little cradle

 

I met his mother at the well, yesterday

Her name is Miriam (Mary)

She told me they’ve named him, Yeshua (Jesus)

 

Yeshua is a fine name. It means savior

Savior. We’ve been waiting for a savior—

 

Hmmmmm…

 

Maude Carolan Pych

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

by Maude Carolan Pych

is available online

at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

www.maudecarolanpych.net

"Mary"

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Image credit: pinterest.com

MARY

 

She was a real maiden

gracious and virtuous

so she trembled

as any girl might

at an angel’s visit

But she had real faith

in a real God

and she said, “Yes.”

 

She was a real woman

not blue-gowned in plaster

A poor carpenter’s wife

not an artist’s rendering

gilded and haloed

She bulged big with child

as she rode astride an ass

and during her real travail

brought forth a baby

in a Bethlehem stable

 

She was a real mother

He was a real son

She nursed him

changed him

bathed and cradled him

as any mother would

She smiled at his first word

saw him take his first step

and when he fell

and scraped his tender knees

she washed away blood

not yet deemed Precious

and soothed him

with soft lullabies

 

When he was twelve

and they discovered

he was missing

as they traveled home

after the Passover

she was anxious

as any mother would be

and heaved a great sigh

when they found him, safe

in the temple courts

 

Yes, she was a real mom

and he was a real son

so, it’s not surprising

it was she

who sensed his power

she who encouraged him to act

at the wedding feast

when wine stopped flowing

for she knew

she just knew…

 

and she was real

at the Crossbeams

Simeon had told her

long, long ago

a sword would pierce her

Though hers be bloodless

it penetrated sharp

and deep, as truly

as the gaping wounds

she now was powerless

to soothe

 

He looked down

from His agony

into hers—

gave her to mother

his friend

gave his friend

to be her son

 

It was always about love

 

She was a real mom

He is the real Savior

 

Maude Carolan 

www.maudecarolanpych.net