A Wintry Night

A Wintry Night

In the stillness 

of the night.

One lone owl

Begins her flight.

Soaring high above

On the icy breeze.

Searching below

Through the barren trees.

Ever watchful

Circling all around.

When a shadow

Dashes across the ground.

She quickly descends

Forceful through the air

Talons ready

to grab the hare.

The clouds circle

the wintry moon.

As the little hare

meets its doom.

The owl begins

To climb high into the trees

Bringing her catch

To the young ones in need.

Ever watchful

As the cold winds blow

She glances around

As it begins to snow.

Snowflakes fall

From the night sky.

As the cold winds 

Go rushing by.

She watches the sun

Rise above the trees.

As the snow settles

Upon the fallen leaves.

Day has begun

As the snow dances in the light

She rests now, for she knows that soon it will be

Another long wintry night.

Written by:

 Darla Palombia

December 9, 2014 

    It has been some time since I have been able to gather my thoughts, however tonight after doing my 30 minute workout, Lily and I went out for a late night walk.  The night air was cold and you can just feel that winter is coming.  As I was watching the clouds around the moon, the words above came to me.  

    It is so obvious that when God is working on bringing you the great things that He has planned in your life, the devil works very hard to counter it.  Such is how I felt yesterday while at my new position.  I know that God brought me to this job account He knows that with Him, I will be able to do it.  He does not bring me to anything that He does not see me through, but at your weakest moment, the devil steps in.  I guess he thought he was gonna win, but God is always stronger and in my life, the devil will be no longer.  For what God has planned for me, is so much more than the dreams I have for myself.  I just have to trust and believe.  It is hard to do that though, sometimes.  The flesh is definitely weak and can easily succomb to the temptations and beliefs that the world puts out there.  Take for instance Christmas, isn't it amazing that in 1964, Charles M. Schulz's A Charlie Brown Christmas had Charlie Brown asking the same thing that today we are asking.  Has Christmas become too commercialized?  As the dynamics of the gifts seem to change, the commercialism seems to be growing and people forget the true meaning. Until you hear it!  One of the most beautiful songs ever written, Silent Night.  There is something about the song that just brings it all back into perspective, what Christmas truly is...the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. 

 Just listen and hear the song:

        Silent night, 

    Holy night

   All is calm

    All is bright

Round yon Virgin

  Mother and child

Holy Infant 

So tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace.

   There is nothing so beautiful as watching a baby sleep.  The innocence of the baby allows him/her to sleep with no worries, peaceful.  The love that fills your heart at the sight of a sleeping child is overwhelming.  I remember watching my sons sleep and wondered what could I have possibly done right, that God chose me to be their mother.   He truly trusted me to guide and teach them.  To be strong enough to let them go when the time came, but always be there for them when they need me.  I ask God, did I do okay?  Did I raise them how You wanted me to?   Letting them go off into the world, is so hard.  Watching them struggle while facing challenges, when all you want to do is make it right for them, but how will they grow, if I am not strong enough to step aside and let them go.  A mother's love is unconditional.  No matter how they turn out, your children are a part of you, and you love them.  It maybe easy for a love between a man and woman fade, but a mother's love never fades, it grows stronger with each day.  Even when they have grown and moved out on their own, the love never stops.  They are forever in your heart. 

  Christmas time brings back so many memories.  My mom gave me some ornaments, many years ago.  Every year, when I decorate my tree, the ornaments bring back the memory of putting them on our trees.  The smell of the pine needles would fill the air and we would start off putting the tinsel on, one strand at a time.  Yeah, that lasted all of two branches and then the real fun began, we would throw it on by handfuls.  Somehow though it landed on the branches just right.  I remember coming home from school to find the village painstakingly put into place under the tree by my mom.  So beautiful.   

    

   So as you are decorating your tree

   Hearts are filled with joy and glee.

   Remember the times of long ago

   And how Jesus still loves us so.

   Even in this world today

   Love will truly guide the way.

   Open your hearts, to Christmas joy

   Value the time, with family and friends

   Ever thankful, say AMEN!

   

   

   

Happy tree decorating!

Until we meet again.