• kimmie
  • kimmie
  • Senior Member
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  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: Sun, 09 Aug 2009
  • Posts: 110

Topic: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

So we lost our dear mother on Sept. 26 at the age of 64.  I've had ups and downs of course.  Christmas has always been a huge deal for our family, even more so once the grandchildren started being born 11 years ago.  My Mom has 5 of them now, ages 4-11. 

I've been ok the last 2 weeks or so, probably pushing some of the grief into my heart's recesses a bit, for the sake of my kids.  And I'm really ok with that for the time being.  I've shopped, decorated, and I started wrapping gifts yesterday.  I'm hosting my side of the family for dinner on Christmas afternoon.  I LOVE to cook and am really looking forward to the celebration.

But I'm worried about my sister.  She's really having a rough time this holiday.  They got their tree up 2 weeks ago and she still hasn't decorated it.  And she's always been more into decorating for Christmas than I ever have.  I just spoke to her on the phone and she's very weepy today.  I tried to tell her to think how displeased Mom would be if she knew she was acting like this, not getting into the Christmas spirit.  And I reminded her of Mom's "sign" to me last week, when she made my daughter's Hallmark Christmas book spontaneously speak to me.

Does anyone have a poem, inspirational story, anything that I could share with my sister to help her?  It breaks my heart that she's so down, and even more so that I can't help her.  (I'm a total Type A, solutions kind of person, always have been.)

~Kim
my mother lost her 16 month battle with CC 9/26/10
"Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations as all other earthly causes combined."

kimmie's Website

  • Registered: Sat, 17 Apr 2010
  • Posts: 655

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing

I know how much you miss me
You know I hold you dear
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year

I sent you each a special gift
From my heavenly home above
I sent you each a memory of my undying love

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told

Please love and keep each other
As my Father said to do
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you

So have a Merry Christmas
And wipe away that tear:
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Devoted Daughter to the most wonderful Dad a girl could ask for.  Sadly lost his battle on 19.02.11, peacefully in the arms of Mom and I.  As requested by Dad "we will keep on smiling".
  • Registered: Sat, 17 Apr 2010
  • Posts: 655

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

Christmas in Heaven
by Unknown

'Tis Christmas in Heaven
What a beautiful sight!
It's my first one here;
Everything is all right.

The crib is adorned
With the brilliance of stars,
Wisemen have come
From Venus and Mars.

I've met all our dear ones
Who preceded us here;
The reunion was lovely,
An event full of cheer.

And tonight we'll all gather,
In reverence we'll kneel,
For the Babe in the cradle
Up in Heaven is Real.

I think of my family
that I left behind
And I pray that your Christmas
Is as blessed as mine

Please shed no more tears,
For my soul is at rest,
Just love one another;
Live life to its best.

Yes, It's Christmas In Heaven,
So I've heard them say,
Yet, Christmas In Heaven
Happens every day.

Devoted Daughter to the most wonderful Dad a girl could ask for.  Sadly lost his battle on 19.02.11, peacefully in the arms of Mom and I.  As requested by Dad "we will keep on smiling".
  • Registered: Sun, 01 Aug 2010
  • Posts: 493

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

I don't know where you found those poems, but I am sitting her crying and thinking of sharing them with my son who is a pastor. Thank you so much. My husband is sstill here with me, but I relate them to next year when he will probably not be with me. Thank you so much for sharing - they are so beautiful. Blessings, Susan

  • From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: Sun, 15 Jun 2008
  • Posts: 710

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

little tree
    e.e. cummings

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see          i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid

look          the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms
and i'll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
"Noel Noel"

Source: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive … ?id=176724

tiapatty's Website

  • Registered: Sat, 17 Apr 2010
  • Posts: 655

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

I'm glad you like them Susan, they are beautiful aren't they. 

I found them on google internet search.

Best wishes

Andrea

Devoted Daughter to the most wonderful Dad a girl could ask for.  Sadly lost his battle on 19.02.11, peacefully in the arms of Mom and I.  As requested by Dad "we will keep on smiling".
  • Registered: Sun, 14 Oct 2007
  • Posts: 141

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

Kim,

Not sure if this will fall in the category of inspiration but I was struck by the thought. Yesterday I attended a memorial service for a friend's mother in law who passed away at the age of 89. Sybil had led a good life and was generally in good health and really it was age that ultimately caused her passing.

After the family had spoke about grandma the pastor got up and read a scripture and then went on to share her own thoughts about death and loss and she said something that truly struck home with me and that is that Grief is the last gift our loved ones give to us.  It is a period to feel sorrow  and loss for their passing and then with time find comfort in our memories.  I know I have never considered grief in this context and it really struck a chord. Maybe this idea of grief as a gift will also help your sister.

Bz

  • From: Calgary, Canada
  • Registered: Sun, 07 Mar 2010
  • Posts: 361

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

Oh man, I think I needed a good cry, and I just had one!  Beautiful poems!! 

Kimmie - I am sorry your sister is having such a hard time.  I know it's totally different, but I just put my tree up on the weekend, and have had a hard time getting into the spirit knowing it will probably be Dad's last with us.  I know I have been avoiding the season with that thought in my head, and have finally realized that as hard as it is, I need to celebrate the fact that he's here at all, since we didn't think he would be.

I imagine it's much the same for you sister, only she's avoiding the first one WITHOUT your Mom.  I hope she can find some peace, and feel the Christmas spirit surround her in the days to come, but I can only imagine that it's a normal part of grieving - a first Christmas without a loved one must be a difficult milestone to get through....

I am thinking of you and your sister, and hope Christmas brings smiles to everyone faces...


Jen

  • From: South Louisiana
  • Registered: Mon, 17 May 2010
  • Posts: 94

Re: ISO a poem, encouragement, anything!

Jennifer S,

This Christmas was very hard, my soulmate for the last 36 years went to Jesus on Feb. 17th, and on Nov. 21 my Mom joined him.  So this Christmas I had not only lost my husband but my Mom.  Christmas was not the same I did put up a small tree.  I noticed that no one mentioned their name.  My son has only spoken to me once since my Mom died, and that was on Christmas Day.  If it wasn't for my daughter I don't know where I would be.
I still go to the doctor for my nerves, and I still go to the counselor every week, they are helping me hold everything together as much as I can.  Hold on  to your loved ones, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow much less today.

Terry Sanders

Love to my Wayne for 36 years
I'm not a widow, I am a wife
We are only apart for heaven's sake
You are waiting for me at heaven's gate