in the secret of thy presence

This is my New Year's Resolution in the words of Albert Osborn. Now to put this real ideal into the daily face of my everyday life...'twil be the challenge.

In the secret of thy presence,
Where the pure in heart may dwell,
Are the springs of sacred service
And a power that none can tell.
There my love must bring its offering,
There my heart must yield its praise,
And the Lord will come, revealing
All the secrets of his ways.

More than all my lips may utter,
More than all I do or bring,
Is the depth of my devotion
To my Saviour, Lord and King,
Nothing less will keep me tender,
Nothing less will keep me true;
Nothing less will keep the fragrance
And the bloom on all I do!

Blessed Lord, to see thee truly,
Then to tell as I have seen,
This shall rule my love supremely,
This shall be the sacred gleam.
Sealed again is all the sealing,
Pledged again my willing heart,
First to know thee, then to serve thee,
Then to see thee as thou art.

christmas reality

in postcard glitter of a snow, unmarked

by sledding rides;

under cedar boughs, where scarlet

holly berries hide.

at china-laid tables, set on linen cloth

for six or less

at which adults and minute angels are the

only welcome guests.

on a cookie tray daintily dusted

with nonpariels;

at the lacey curtain-edged glow

of electric candles.

is christmas to be found?

when boisterous greetings meet holiday

smells in the air

among the tumult of cousins, gleeful

over cardtable fare.

in the almost-hush of grandpa's grace when

bowed is each head;

in tart cranberries, celery dressing,

and grandma's rye bread.

where ice-frosted farmhouse windows

bloom yellow cheer.

where tradition reminds familiarity of all

that we hold dear,

there christmas is to be found.

guess what, everyone?

i went home for thanksgiving!!

it was wonderful.

worth the 22 hour drive...

the sitting in traffic...

the drawn-out games of rook...

the packing...

the loss of sleep...

i'd do it all again.

now i am back in va

and into a month that school teacher's struggle with

as it overloads their already full schedule...

not to worry.

what other time of year can rival december?

the fluffy snowflakes...

the smell of baking gingerbread...

excitement of gifts and of secrets...

christmas lights strung beside the road.

i'd give much to make christmas happen.