Month: December 2021

I am comfortable

Sitting in my rocker

Talking to my best friend

He suggests I write

About all the beauty

All of the delight

I need His help to

Find my pad and pen

Get up and locate them

Come back and begin

Out in the south east

At about nine o’clock

The sun blazes orange-peach

Through the tall pine trees

They stand at attention

There is no breeze

Straight out the sky is blue

White clouds with a creamy pink hue

The water calm, a steel gray

My metal birds content to stay

Give contrast to the grass

Golden on the crest of

Snow covered dunes

The west seems to be sleeping

My friend says it’s too soon

It will be awake and functioning

Later this afternoon

Be content until then

Stansberry McKricken aka Stanski

December 16, 2021 ^

A warmer day with rain, which will help reduce

the snow on the ground making some happy and some sad. 

I offer any discomfort to the lord.  Be at peace. 

Take your steps wisely.  He will be with you watching you

as you continue through your day.  You have much to do

as this is the busy season of Christmas which seems to

become more pagan each year with Christ being

removed from the marketplace and the celebration of

His birth almost forgotten.  Most do not like this. 

They want less pagan and more Christian. 

They all have a part to play.  They can be part of

the movement or try to slow it down.  Lord have mercy. 

We will learn and hopefully before it is too late. 

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 15, 2021 ^

Sometimes a person has needs that seem impossible to fulfill. 

Another person discloses that information to a third party

who finds a way to solve the situation. 

He needs permission from the person in need

before he can put his plan into action. 

The call is difficult because the one receiving

is in disbelief and shock.  He can hardly speak and

there is silence on the call.  Finally, goodbyes are said and

the promise that the one in need will get back in touch

as arrangements have to be made on his end

to make this all happen.  He calls later and accepts

the offer of help and then confesses that at

the end of the first call he put the phone down and began to cry. 

This of course affects the giver who also has to hold back tears

because he has been moved by this show of gratefulness. 

Thankfulness is exuded by all parties, each for their own reasons. 

The procedures take place and are completed

over several weeks and months.  Happiness is felt by everyone. 

The one in need feel whole and is happy

that people stepped up to help him. 

The professional and his assistant are thrilled that

they brought about this minor miracle and

the one who arranged it all and paid for

the hard expenses is beside himself in joy

for having had the opportunity to make this all happen. 

The outcome was good for all parties. 

In life we can do many things to lighten other’s loads. 

The question is will we take the time and interest. 

The rewards are great while the doing nothing hangs heavy. 

Not knowing is understandable, but we all know of something which

or someone who needs a helping hand. 

Joy arrives in many forms and it is up to us

to capture as much of it as we can. 

Stanski

December 15, 2021 ^

No one knows how much time they have left.

I want every minute to count.

There is much to do and I want to keep

Active as your human angel and disciple.

I wish to stay open to your purpose,

Wherever that may lead.  Help me

To keep my emotions under control.

I have no desire to harm anyone.

Help me look for the good in everyone.

I ask special blessings on my children and

On all the people I hold in high esteem.

I thank you for all of your gifts.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 14, 2021 ^

No one knows how much time they have left.

I wanT every minute to count.

There is much to do and I want to keep

Active as your human angel and disciple.

I wish to stay open to your purpose,

Wherever that may lead.  Help me

To keep my emotions under control.

I have no desire to harm anyone.

Help me look for the good in everyone.

I ask special blessings on my children and

On all the people I hold in high esteem.

I thank you for all of your gifts.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 14, 2021 ^

The time before us has you in wonder

And sophistication now gives new meaning to primitive

We think of those who were here, having traveled

from the east across New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,

Indiana; settling in Michigan.  What was it like?

How were animals kept? 

Meals must have been an adventure

Trees to be cut and what tools did they use?

How many small crosses marked the pathway of the journeys?

Oh, the wonder and we complain when we

Walk eight blocks to school. 

We do this without thinking about

Those who cleared this path as way for these roads.

How many men and horses were used to shape and grade?

At what pace did progress take place? 

Kerosene lamps replaced by incandescent lights

Telephones with all the wires and operators, too

How did they do it we ask?

There was that time when everything was done by hand

You cut and carried wood; poured foundations with hand mixed concrete

Now we drive cars to an office for acupuncture or

A massage to loosen sore muscles

You wonder how as you order your load on a cell-phone

while driving through a fast food lot. 

How did they do it without all the gadgets and plunder?

Horseback to the auto, Wright brothers to the moon

Advent of miracle drugs, none too soon.

They were the prime ones who showed the way

We stand on their shoulders, we, the sophisticates of today

We thank them, too, for their sacrifices and

Lives they given for our freedom

We salute them and stand up for them in gratitude

For their gifts to us

Now, we’re determined to do our part

To do it without a fuss

Stanski

December 14, 2021 ^

No new snow, but lots of sunshine.

My work today is in God’s hands.

There are things to do, but nothing

Critical except staying close to Jesus

And trusting in Him.  I always want to

keep his presence near and call out His name.

my relationship with Him is important, but

so often it is easy to forget.  I pray that

I remember every minute.  This year

will soon end and God willing we will

all have new challenges in the year to come. 

By holding his hand we will make it through.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 13, 2021 ^

Reality is proving tough, so

Fantasy comes into play

Many little hurts and compromises

In la-la land can be hid away

The remembering when and other hard-line facts

Discovered and put to use for a day

We can cover it up; have a good excuse

Never thinking of the harm that is done

Living in this secret way and then

Taking the time needed to recover

You wonder if it is worth all the playacting

When we seek the truth we have support

Game-playing should be a last resort

Tomorrow will bring a new sunny day

Then yesterday will be blown away

All is forgiven in dreamland

Just the failure of a new episode

I know the road I should walk now

Won’t have to be told

Spring is coming; bells will be ringing

Keeping toll of those who are wise

Someday I’ll be included, once

I separate the truth from the lies

Stanski

December 13, 2021 ^

Light snow from the window view

Turned into a six-inch nightmare

My work today as always is in

The hands of Jesus.  There are

Things to do, shoveling primarily.

This is not critical but staying close

To Jesus is as is trusting in him.  I

Want to keep His presence near and

Call out His name.  My relationship

With him is important, but so often

It is each to forget.  I pray that I

Remember every minute.  Today I end

Worrying and plan to be stronger in

My working for the Lord.  I begin now

Planning for the New Year and the joy

I hope to find with my resolution.  Amen

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

A GOOD DAY

This day went by and

It was the little things

That left me in wonder

While the major happenings

Passed me by.

Some say ignorance is bliss

I thought the sun reflecting

Off the snow mountains at

The shoreline was amazing

I overheard a complaint about

A glitch in unemployment

Payments for someone

Temporarily laid off and

I thought this was

A world I never made.

I watched 122 railroad cars

Cross the road in front of me

No problem, I was not in a hurry

All of the things I needed for

My income tax work were

Right where I left them

I felt like a pioneer driving through

The whirling snow in my truck

At naptime, I dreamt that

Lionel Leo Hampton was playing

A special percussion piece for me

The howling of the wind woke me

I tended to a few chores, then

Watched the sunset. 

The reflection on the lake

Made it appear to be two suns

The color was magnificent

I fixed a simple dinner

Sweet potatoes and applesauce

A little white wine for me

An Agatha Christy mystery

Gave proof to the fact that

I am not much of a detective

The kitchen was cleaned and

That about did it, except for

Late evening prayers

Life can be simple and beautiful

Stansberry McKricken aka Stanski

December 11, 2021 ^