One Starry Night That Changed the World

And the story is told
that the first believers were simple Shepherds,
who were taking turns watching their flocks one dark starry night.
When lo and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
surrounded by radiant swirling billows of light.
Stirred from their sleepy watch, the Shepherds were terrified,
but this beautiful angelic being, floating in mid-air,
began to speak to them in words something like this:
"Do not be afraid.
Listen, I have something wonderful to tell you.
After tonight, you and everyone else will never be the same.
You are going to be so ecstatic . . . just filled with wonder.
I can't wait to see your faces!
You're going to want to share this joy with everyone.
I know, it sounds incredible, but today
in Bethlehem a Savior has been born, and he is the Christ,
the One you've all been waiting for!!!
I know it's hard to believe, but listen, here is a sign for you:
You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger."
And with that , the angel whooshed up right over their heads.
Suddenly, a whole bunch of them appeared,
swirling in gorgeous golden lights, praising God and singing:
"Glory to God in the highest and peace to men of good will."
And then, just like that . . . they disappeared.

Now, you can picture the shepherd's faces,
looking up and then looking at each other, saying;
"What was that? Did you see what I saw?
Did you hear what she said? Do you think it could be true?"
And with that, a few of them decided to go and find out,
since the small town of Bethlehem was just over the hill.
They were filled with excitement and took nothing with them
except for one little lamb, a gift for this baby, should they find him.
And they did find him, just like the angel said,
wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
They entered the humble stable and gave the parents their little lamb,
telling them how the angel came to them in the fields that night.
They told Mary and Joseph that the angel called their Child the Savior, the Christ.
And they stood there together, on that quiet starry night,
looking in wonder at a sleeping Babe
who would change the world forever.

Joanne Cucinello © 2001

Winnie the Pooh Movie Trailer Official (HD)

Nana Loves You: PLEEEZZ!!!

Nana Loves You: PLEEEZZ!!!

PLEEEZZ!!!

This is what I used to tell my kids when they were young, teaching them to cross the street: Stop! . . . look (both ways) . . . and listen. Three important words every child needs to learn very early in life.

STOP! . . . Is that a word anymore? Are parents allowed to yell that in public? When your two year old is trying to poke the dog's eye out with a twig . . . can you quickly shout "NO"?! Or are you now advised to ask your child if you can have the twig . . . PLEEEZZ??
I remember years ago when my youngest son was two and we'd gone to the playground one cloudy day. I was pushing him on a toddler swing next to three other Moms and their little ones. All the tots were giggling and squealing, when all of a sudden it began to lightly rain. As the drops became bigger and wetter, the two Mom's to my left and myself began declaring . . . "Okay, it's time to go!" . . . "Two more pushes" I said to my pouting child and then took him out of the swing as the other two ladies did the same . . . just before the downpour started. But not so for the Mom to the right of us. She was standing and pleading in front of her two year old daughter in the swing . . . as they both were getting drenched . . . "PLEEEZZ, Sweetheart,can't we stop now?" The little tyrant just shook her head "NO!!!" and screamed bloody murder as her Mother attempted to come near the swing. So the woman stood there crying and repeating her need for permission from a two year old.
I wouldn't be surprised if she's still standing there pushing that swing!

Life Is Love

Life is so fragile
we are all waiting to be born
and held forever
in the palm of God

Life is so beautiful
we've been given a heart
that keeps the beat
for all who've come before
and all who have been promised

Life is so magnetic
attracting, holding fast
the good and bad of humankind
the very best and worst of us

Life is purely gift
forgiving one creation, leaping to another
to please the smiling God whose
only dream is love.

The Visit

“I saved these just for you” she said.
“I knew you’d come one day to find them.”
Bending to her bureau drawer,
the moonlight swept across her face
and there ‘neath tattered wings I saw
a form familiar.

She picked up bits of ivory
with her musing fingertips
worn now from the years.
A smile, soft and lovely,
graced her frail and shallow face
and flash-backs
just like shreds of lightening . . .
flooded me.

“It was you, wasn’t it?" I gasped.
“All the while it was you . . .
tiptoeing past my bed
like a thief who’d stolen jewels.
I thought that I was dreaming . . .
swore I saw those wings . . .
yes, and that fairy scent you always wore.
You lived with us back then, Grandma,
and all the while . . . I thought that thief was Mom!”

She bid me, “Close your eyes and open up your hand.”
and as if I were standing small again . . . I anxiously obeyed.
Then she dropped them,
my tiny ivory tooth buds saved since childhood
toppled in the center of my palm,
"treasures, jewels" she said . . . her memories.

And there we lay that evening
recalling heart-soaked lullabies
rocking in the dark
till all the breath of all the years
dissolved into my arms
and the long cord of Grandma's love
~ wrapped my heart with gold.


Joanne Cucinello 2010

We Are Never Alone

This morning, I was remembering a certain Sunday long ago when I was young, sitting in Church and feeling quite alone. The priest that day ended his sermon with these words from Isaiah 49:15 . . . "See, I will not forget you. I have carved you in the palm of my hand."

The image, those words conveyed, gave me such comfort . . . and continues to stay with me throughout my life, especially through difficult times . . . reminding me always of God's faithful love.

It was my Dad who made that image so real for me . . . that day sitting at the kitchen table. He was tired, working three jobs to support his brood of five, all alone, after my mom had left. Dad was an optimist, tomorrow would always be a better day. We were alone together that particular morning. My brothers and sisters were still asleep. I remember asking him if he wished we were rich. He smiled with affection and touched my cheek. Then he took out his worn brown leather wallet and wanted to show me how rich he really was.

Out came five folded little papers he'd kept safe through the years, one small note of affection from each one of us and he let me read them. Dad was all teary eyed and said something like . . . "See, these are my jewels . . . you kids. I'm the richest man on earth." I knew then, that in his own simple way, my Father had carved us in the palm of his hand.

Moments of love, shared at a kitchen table, little notes of affection saved close to the heart . . . small, but present remnants we have each passed on to our own children, in hopes that they will never feel alone, so that even when we're gone . . . . they'll remember how much they were loved.