REASSURANCE:
TREASURED CHRISTIAN POEMS
by
Dorris E. Smith
forward by Jennifer MackInday
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Sandy Island Press on Smashwords
Reassurance:
Treasured Christian Poems
Copyright © 2010 by Sandy Island Press
Bloomington, Indiana
All rights reserved.
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FORWARD
Dorris E. Smith had many friends over the course of her 91 years. She never met a stranger, and loved her friends dearly. Everyone knew that her door was always open. In fact, she was still making new friends at the nursing home right up until she passed away.
I stayed with her the last week of her life, sitting at her bedside holding her hand. We shared silence and sometimes a stare or a smile. God gave me that week as a priceless gift, one that I will carry until I meet her in eternity. It was in those moments of silence sitting together when I truly came to know her. I saw in her eyes the things that she had done and said and those she never did. I saw the dreams she had that came true and those did not. I saw the joys and sorrows of her live, and the strength she never known she had.
I will always be at peace when I remember her smile, the light in her clear blue eyes, her love of Christ, the sound of her laugh, the firmness of her hugs and her love for me.
Dorris was my grandmother, but to others she was a counselor, a friend, and a teacher. She taught many people many things. Some she taught to sew, even though her sewing was not perfect. Some she taught to paint, even though she was not a Monet. Some she taught to sing, though maybe just a bit off key. Some she taught to be sweet and a little sassy. Some she taught to cook, though she was not a gourmet. Some she taught to write, even if no one ever reads your work.
Dorris taught others about the love of God and the power of prayer above all else in life. Prayer was the one thing she did best.
My grandma and I discussed her death several times. I told her that I did not want to go to her funeral. She said that whatever I wanted to do would be fine with her. That is just how indulgent she was of me. I told her I just could not bear her funeral – and she would not be here anyway so it would not matter if I did not come. Well, I was wrong. She was there that day, and she is here every day – a little bit of her will always be with each of us.
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January Wonderland
There were diamonds on the trees today
The world so frosted white
Had turned into a fairy land
By the touch of the master of light.
I looked, and behold the apple trees
Were covered with sparkles so rare
And over beyond the cornfield
Jewels just lingered there
My fence looked like a large cobweb
And the pond was a mirror so fine
The weeds were coated with a mystical film
The glistened and twinkled in time
The earth took on new beauty
In all of its richness sublime
The great master painter of heaven
Had painted it in a moment of time
Then I looked out of the window
Down the lane and over the sod
Then I beheld the brilliance
And realized the greatness of God
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The Jewels
I saw jewels on the trees today
Red, blue and green so fine
They glistened and sparkled in the breeze
And on the telephone line
They looked like lights on the Christmas tree
Twinkling to and fro
It looked like a wonderful fairyland
Glistening above the snow
It made me think of happy days
Sweet times of long ago
When the Christmas bells were ringing
And peace and joy over-flowed
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February
In February when the wind is cold
I sit and long for spring
I get so tired of ice and snow
That covers everything
And then I think of daffodils
That bloom along the lane
And then my heart with rapture thrills
For soon it will be spring
I think of apple orchards
Spreading forth their colors gay
And of dandelions in profusion
Blooming along the way
Then I look toward the springtime
When crocus are in bloom
And I forget the sadness
Of all the winter’s gloom
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Early In the Morning
Very early in the morning
They brought spices to the tomb
On the first day at dawning
They were filled with fear and gloom
But the angel quickly told them
Christ had risen from the dead
For behold, He went before them
Into Galilee instead
Then they ran to tell His disciples
But He met them on the way
He said, “Fear not, tell my brethren
That they shall see me today.”
The disciples went into a mountain
Where Jesus told them to go
And He came and gave them power
To teach all the nations, and lo
He said He would be with them always
Even to the end of the world
To baptize them in the name of the father
And of the son and the Holy Ghost
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The Resurrection
Jesus arose triumphant
Over the shadows and gloom
As the flowers rise to new beauty
Jesus arose from the tomb
Spring, symbolic of Easter
Creation born anew
The price was paid for you and I
As the veil was torn in two
Jesus, the resurrection
Once more we feel his power
Just as they did many years ago
When evil was crushed from that hour
Ever after we feel at Easter
This glorious song o’er the Earth
Victorious was He in living
Victorious was He in death
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He is Risen
He is not dead, He is risen
The stone has been rolled away
And they said very early in the morning
Come, see the place where He lay
He walked beside them to Emmaus
And afterward they reasoned and knew
And said, “Our hearts burned within us”
As He told us the story so true
He stood on the shore of Tiberius
And asked if they had any meat
Cast your net on the right side, He said
And they found a wonderful treat
For the net was filled with fish
According to the Lord’s command
But they knew not that it was Jesus
Until they arrived on the land
And now He stands beside us
Lo, in spirit today
And we feel like those of Emmaus
As He appears to us on the way
The beautiful story of Easter
Is born in our hearts again
And the miracle of the resurrection
Is told anew to men
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The Road to Emmaus
They walked on the road to Emmaus
Their hearts were troubled and sad
The master had been taken from them
As the angry mob became mad
They communed one to another
Of the fateful things that were done
Saying, He which should have redeemed Israel
Had been crucified and gone
But a stranger appeared beside them
And walked with them on the way
And he asked why they were so burdened
At the terrible news of that day
They said, “Have you not heard the latest?”
Of reports from dark Calvary
And how the shining angels
Have said, “He’s alive and is free!”
Then he said, “Do you not know the scriptures?”
How that Jesus should rise again?
And ever after that morning
The message would be given to men
As they drew nigh to the village
They constrained him to tarry with them
And as he took bread and blessed it
The master was revealed to them
And they said one to another
Our hearts burned within us today
As we walked and talked with the master
When He appeared to us on the way
They rose up and went to the city
Saying, the Lord is risen indeed
And hath appeared unto Simon
At the time of his greatest need
They told of the great awakening
How Jesus had risen from the dead
And how He was known among them
In the breaking of the bread
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Springtime
Once again it’s spring time
Lovely flowers are in bloom
Birds are singing in the treetops
Gone is the winter’s gloom
And again the daffodils
Nod gently to and fro
And the crocus have already
Pushed their heads up through the snow
Frogs are croaking on the pond
The birds are on the wing