HE HAS COME

Jesus came to visit once again
in a manger dark, obscure,
not as a king, but as a babe
so innocent and pure.

The angels trumpeted the news
o’er all the countryside,
to shepherds poor, who watched their sheep
and drew them to His side.

They knelt in adoration
as they gazed in wonderment,
at the Saviour who was born that day
and was from heaven, sent.

In their simpleness they knew
of what had come to pass,
they worshipped His perfection
the Prince of Peace had come at last.

Oh the joy to gaze upon
this pure and Holy Child,
to know the Light had come to be
the source of Love, all meek and mild.

Oh Lord I pray that all mankind
will one day come to see,
that His Love is for all people
His Love will set us free.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 27, 2006

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

The greatest gift that we’ve been given
from the time it all began,
is the pure and holy Christ Child
sent to fulfill, the Father’s plan.

He was born not in a palace
or dressed in royal robes,
in a stable, dank and dark
this was His first abode.

No matter the surroundings
for when the time had come,
His presence made it glorious
its brightness like the sun.

Our hearts are like that stable
so many years since past,
cold and dark and unprepared
for such a gift that’s come to pass.

The hour is late, He’s on the way
ready or not He’ll come to stay,
to show us how to better live
give us all the love there is to give.

Make ready the manger of your heart
prepare it for A King today,
He is coming, be in readiness
prepare for Him the Way.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 23, 2006

LONELINESS

Why, oh God this loneliness
this deep longing from within,
it’s not for lack of people in my life
or lack of kith and kin.

It haunts me in my wakefulness
and in a crowded place,
amid the throng I’m all alone
as if in some disgrace.

I feel so lost and out of place
it seems I don’t fit in,
what makes me Lord, so insecure
I ask myself again.

Was it something Lord back in the past
when I was young and free,
that robbed me of all confidence
so that I could not be me.

Or is it Lord a yearning
for You within my heart,
for that union up in heaven
that one day I’ll be a part.

I hunger for that glorious day
when your arms will gently hold,
me to your heart, so warm and tender
at last Your Love behold.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 22, 2006

THE ALPHA EXPERIENCE

When I walked in the door I was greeted
with smiles and hugs, by the group gathered round,
and my heart leapt with the joy of the Spirit
for these new friends that I had just found.

I sensed something good was beginning
that would always remain in my heart,
at the banquet we broke bread together
and with that we made a good start.

The videos so light and appealing
replete with truth, from the Lord most high,
each week fills our hearts with gladness
of its enlightenment, none could deny.

In small groups we all got together
to share what we found to be,
a meeting of hearts, minds and spirits
of getting Lord, closer to Thee.

Our leaders were full of the Spirit
as they guided us to our goal,
that of knowing and serving our Saviour
who dwells in our hearts and our souls.

We found each of our lives had sameness
each had their joys, and sorrows and fear,
if we ask He will give us the courage
to go forward in faith, to see clear.

Then on the day of The Spirit
peace and joy came the whole day long,
as praise and prayer were lifted higher
to our God, for whom they belong.

Then came the time, of our final meeting
feelings mixed as we lingered to say...
keep in touch, I’ll miss you, Merry Christmas
in fond memories you ever will stay.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 19, 2006

A FRIEND INDEED

We met by chance some years ago
not often at the start,
but as the years flew swiftly by
in my life you shared a part.

Your frequent visits were at times
a burden and a test,
you lingered on and wore me down
I was not at my best.

Then at times it seemed you left me
t’was like a dream come true,
and for a time I did without
the weary sight of you.

I started then to notice
how when you came to me,
I turned, to my God and Father
to heal and comfort me.

The more I pondered on this fact
I began to see the why,
for suffering is a part of life
Jesus did it, why not I.

By now you know my friend is pain
he’s ever near to me,
I will offer up my friend
to God, for all eternity.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 18, 2006

ANOINTED HANDS

You were chosen by the Father
and you harkened to His voice,
He gave you a flock to shepherd
since then you’ve had no choice.

But to lead His children safely
down the path that leads to glory,
with your holy hands anointed
as you teach the age-old story.

You lead us to each well of grace
where the Spirit comes to dwell,
and the scales and fog are lifted
all His love we’ll know so well.

At the well, of reconciliation
we are cleansed and made like new,
He waits upon the Altar
there’s sometimes many, sometimes few.

As you celebrate the Mass
using words that are our wealth,
you follow in His footsteps
you feed us with His very self.

In the different stages of our lives
your presence gives us hope,
and your guidance and anointed hands
do bless and help us cope.

In thanksgiving Lord, we pray
for these, Your faithful ones,
keep them ever in Your Heart
bless them, each and everyone.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 15, 2006

IN VALLEY’S LOW

It seems I’m ‘oft in valleys low
my heart painfully throbbing, its sorrow to show,
events of the day that make me to weep
that churn in my body, and keep me from sleep.

The ‘whys’ that erupt from deep in my soul
so many questions, no answers do I behold,
Lord, I beg Your forgiveness for the sins of the past
I never knew that they hurt you, as the deed was cast.

For they keep You from working with Your healing hands
to clean all our wounds, help to follow Your plan,
we long to go to the mountain, where the truth ever reigns
and to work for your Kingdom, from whence we came.

Lead us out of the valley, out of the fog and the mist
that blind us from all of Your blessings and gifts,
show us sweet visions of heavenly bliss
and greet us Lord Jesus, with a welcoming kiss.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 05, 2006

FROM SORROW TO GLADNESS

I come before Your Majesty
in sorrow, body bent,
my heart and soul disfigured
and my life so poorly spent.

Though I try, and do my best
I always fall so short,
of the goal I’ve set before me
earthly pleasure I do court.

My faults are oh so many
my failings quite a few,
Lord, stretch out Your hand and touch me
fill me with Your strength anew.

The desire burns within my heart
to give all of me to You,
so help me Lord to mend my ways
fill me with Your love so true.

If I keep on trying
to give my all to You,
I know You’ll be there near me,
as my gladness You renew.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 04, 2006

MY CHILDREN

So long have I called you My children
yet My voice is drowned out in the din,
of a world that forgets the letting
of My blood to erase all their sin.

Don’t you know of the love that I give you
of My mercy and bountiful grace,
don’t you know that my love’s eternal
no matter what is your disgrace.

For there’s no sin too great for forgiveness
no action so wrong there’s no hope,
don’t listen to Satan’s foul message
his lies won’t help you to cope.

He’ll rob you of all of My treasures
he’ll leave you with nary a one,
a thief and a liar, he murders
the Light that comes from the Son.

Rest, in the peace that I’ve given
open your heart to it’s source,
I will always be there and waiting
let My love in your being run its course.

Repent, and come to My arms a-waiting
forgiveness is there if you ask,
I will fill you with joy everlasting
and you’ll find peace and love at last.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Dec. 04, 2006

BROKEN DREAMS

Rivers of tears are flowing
from so many broken dreams,
such a torrent inundating
what were once pure peaceful streams.

The very fabric, of what life once was
torn asunder in these times,
of loss of love, respect and faith
there’s no reason and no rhyme.

Forgiveness fading from our lives
revenge the thing to do,
retaliate, get even
and kill the babies too.

When will the scales be lifted
that blind us to His Word,
when will His, “Come follow Me”
within our hearts be heard.

There is an urging in our hearts
take heed, the time is nigh,
Now is the time for action
before life’s final sigh.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Nov. 28, 2006

MY FAVOURITE TIME

It’s just at the fine line drawn
between the night and day,
let it last a moment longer
for this Oh Lord I pray.

Let the softness of the night’s breath
wash o’er my rested soul,
and fill me with what’s needed
on this journey to my goal.

As the blushing sun a-rising
kisses all to start the day,
fill me Lord with thankfulness
for all creation, Lord I pray.

As the day lamp rises higher
Your hand moves on canvas bright,
painting all of daytime’s features
ever glorious in our sight.

I revel in Your handiwork
as far as eye can see,
and I’m awed to think, Almighty God
that You’d have done it just for me.

This precious time I keep for us, Oh God
to share our love as one,
to touch our hearts together
at the rising of the sun.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Nov. 26, 2006

WITHOUT YOU

There are times I sit and meditate
on the workings of Your hands,
You’ve played in my heart, a major part
that only now I understand.

Now I see in retrospect
all the wonders that You do,
and I couldn’t Lord, have done it
without You.

All the times, when I succeeded
at some task I had to do,
and the results were so fantastic
and my heart just barely flew.

It’s sad how we forget You
when things are going well,
but when the times get harder
our memory rings a bell.

Your faithfulness, Your mercy
have ever been nearby,
as close as a prayer in the morning
eyes lifted to the sky.

I am sorry for the memory loss
the times, You didn’t get Your due,
but now I know with certainty
I couldn’t have done it without You

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Nov. 10, 2006

NIGHTS OF LONGING

The night is long and painful
as I await dawns golden globe,
reaching out from velvet darkness
light fingers poke and probe.

The ponderings of a mind fatigued
by so many wakeful nights,
makes for days, of fogged confusion
a sad and worried plight.

While the maladies of life do mount
my members can’t sustain,
the chores that take me longer
and cause me so much pain.

My commitments now so hard to keep
meetings here and meetings there,
sometimes I have to cancel out
because I have to rest, take care.

My journey’s one of stops and starts
but there’s one thing that I know,
Your always there beside me
sometimes You carry me, it’s so.

The fuel that keeps me going
and keeps joy within my heart,
Is Your Eucharist, my Saviour
and the love that You impart.

With arms raised high, I give You praise
and thank You every day,
for gifts that make me stronger
as I follow in Your Way.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
Oct. 30, 2006

MEANDERINGS

In the innocence of younger days life drifted lazily like the clouds in God’s Ocean above. All was simple and the world was my playground. Day after day of joy, laughter and sometimes tears. Of a mother’s loving touch and the labor of a quiet father who seemed to be unnoticed in his simplicity and faithfulness to his family. The days of the week passed slowly and we extracted all that we could from each 24 hours and went to sleep at night with the sounds of a velvety night wafting through the windows and billowing out the multi-hued curtains. We delighted in the freshness of the evening’s perfume which like an anesthetic lulled us to sleep. Mornings, ahhh mornings, the feeling of adventure, what joys would we experience on such a newly created masterpiece? What could we add to the canvas already drying in the warmth of the early hours. Perhaps some swinging and singing behind the house, music for all within earshot, especially my mom who knew by the racket, just where her little songbird was, and what she was doing. Making mud pies on the back step, engrossed in mimicking the skills of my mother as she created tasty treats for her loved ones. Oh, the smells of her kitchen indelibly etched upon my memory. What a delight to go back in time to that rustic kitchen and see my mother, hands full of flour and the table covered with goodies and the most delectable odors tickling our noses. The round loaves of heavenly scented bread with all of us begging for the crust. She obliged us by cutting all around the loaf so we all had out hearts desire. What a giving, loving treasure she was. Her bread was pure manna and gave us life while at the same time we grew in faith and served a God who gave us all good things. He was the center of our lives and the Rosary was a nightly family prayer, prayed in the kitchen faithfully before we could go out to play. Sundays were spent in thanking and praising God in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and later in the evening we all walked to Church for Benediction. Such glorious days, where our parents rested from much of their chores, except for meals. We went swimming under the watchful eyes of our mother who periodically would join us in the cool water and it did our hearts good to see her at play. Thus our lives continued until as we grew older the strangest thing happened. Time started to speed up and soon it seemed we had to grab a hold of each day to slow it down, but alas it’s not possible and now there seems to be no time for anything. I find my life passing at an alarming rate so now I take the time to lap up all the beauty of God’s masterpiece each day and plant it in my memory for reflection and on special days I wander back to my childhood and once again drink to my fill the glories of past younger days that flood my being with happiness joy and peace.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
June 17, 2006

DAYS OF INNOCENCE

It seems like only yesterday
I was but a joyful child,
days filled with play, discovering
with all, I was beguiled.

Our home, not one of beauty, but
filled with love up to the eaves,
our garden large and bearing
all that we’d ever need.

Our grass was sparse and beaten down
by the feet of many a child,
who gathered there to romp and play
“Keep off the grass” was not our style.

Daily I would hear the call
to visit field and pond,
to commune with all creation
of which I’d grown so fond.

I watched the flights of dragon flies
the lazy buzz of fly and bee,
heard the throaty- rhythmic croaking
of frogs, nearby in the reeds.

The air was warm and scented
with grass and pond and flower,
on my back I watched clouds drifting by
in these wonders saw His Power.

I drank daily from the cool-clear spring
that gurgled in delight,
so happy just to be there
its song playing day and night.

These golden days of innocence
enjoyed from yesteryear,
I pray will always stay with me
because I hold them dear.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
May 23, 2006

PATH TO GLORY

Long nights awake and filled with pain,
would seem my prayers are all in vain.
I see no light, no help for me,
no healing from His Treasury.

I know He hears and cares for me,
I know not why this has to be.
All I know, is that so long ago,
He bore it all for me to show.

The path to glory open wide,
our sufferings joined to His reside,
upon a cross, upon a hill,
His sacrifice remembered still.

In hope I wait upon His Word,
to rise with Him as oft times heard.
No more nights of pain and fears,
no more worry, no more tears.

Margaret Rose Larrivee
May 05, 2006