Like the snows of winter
Melting in the spring,
Like the birds of summer
Gone with winter’s sting,
Life is ever changing,
Moving with each day,
Like the games of children
Grown-ups never play.
How my heart is aching
For a constant friend,
Life can play the harlot
Causing dreams to end.
Man can build an image
To his pride and lust,
But with time His idol
Crumbles in the dust.
Who is there to save me
From this moving tide?
As the water rushes
You are at my side!
Jesus, Friend of sinners,
Changeless One Divine!
Time can never hurt me
With Your hand in mind.
You’ll be here tomorrow
Like the rising sun,
Like the stars and moonlight
When each day is done.
Marian Banducci
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus Our Lord." (ROMANS 8, 38-39)
We Raised Our Daughter Right
To her father, Laura Lee
Was a jewel for all to see;
Sweet sixteen with beauty rare
Eyes that shone and lustrous hair.
"Bright and good" she listened well
To her mother Mary tell
Of the pitfalls lurking there
For a teen so young and fair.
"We have raised our daughter right!"
Spoke her father Dan one night
When a neighbor dropping by
Told his story with a sigh.
"Laura Lee’s been seen by all
"With a stranger, dark and tall;
"Now tonight I’ve seen her park
"With this fellow in the dark."
Like the thunder in the sky
Daniel shouted, "THAT’S A LIE!’
As he saw his neighbor leave,
Then his heart began to grieve.
When the clock struck half past four,
Laura Lee walked through the door
As her father, ashen white
Screamed her name into the night.
Six weeks later Laura Lee
Choosing death for her baby,
Lay a corpse upon a bed
For her body quickly bled.
"We had raised our daughter right"
Speaks her mother night by night,
Wondering why her daughter fair
Came to death without a prayer.
Sweet sixteen with beauty rare
Eyes that shone and lustrous hair,
Played a game of sin and lost
For what unforgiving cost!!
Marian Banducci
Sweet Gratitude
Those whose hearts are never grateful
Die a slow and painful death;
Dark depression fills their being
Bitterness with every breath.
Gratitude, the fount of living,
Gratitude, the root of love;
Grateful hearts have joy in giving;
Sweet anointing from above.
Those whose hearts are never grateful
Lose God’s peace at every turn;
Wanderers in discontentment,
Happiness they’ll ever spurn.
You who suffer pain and anguish,
Know God’s hand is ever there;
Thank the Lord for simple pleasures;
Lift a grateful heart in prayer.
Then like sunshine after storming
Bitterness will disappear;
God will take on all your heartaches;
Peace will conquer all your fear.
Only grateful hearts are happy!
Only grateful hearts can sing!
Thankfulness, sweet balm from Heaven,
Royal pathway to the King!!
Marian Banducci
'Do You Think I'll Make It To Heaven?'
(Based on a true story - an incident which occurred in a convalescent home)
"Do you think I’ll make it to Heaven?" she asked
And the nurse that she questioned was somewhat aghast;
"Why do you ask such a question, my dear?
"You’re the sweetest and gentlest person in here."
A silver-haired lady of eighty-five years
Looked up at the nurse with her eyes filled with tears;
Her voice showed the strain that her heart could not stand
As she fingered a Rosary tight in her hand.
"When I was a young girl - a long time ago,
"I got into trouble with my favorite beau;
"We went to a doctor, not counting the cost
"And my precious baby was forever lost!"
She told of the years that were filled with regret -
A fish out of water now caught in a net;
Oh, the guilt overwhelming that would not let go!
She longed for forgiveness - if only she’d know.
"Do you think I’ll make it to Heaven?" she asked
And the nurse that she questioned was somewhat aghast;
"You pray all the time - you have nothing to fear";
"If only I knew.: she replied with a tear.
Marian Banducci
Spellbound
She felt she was losing the battle -
To "keep herself pure" was her goal;
Now Satan was pulling her downward
To capture her immortal soul.
"Tonight is the night" she kept thinking -
"Oh, God, keep me strong" was her prayer;
Like a shot in the dark came the doorbell
And John, her bold John, now stood there.
He smiled with a smile "oh, so winning",
His laugh a love song to her ears,
His strong arms were now wrapped around her
Like a blanket to calm all her fears.
They sat and they talked about nothing;
She thought, "I have nothing to dread";
His words were a balm of sweet honey -
Then, "Mary, I love you!" he said.
His kiss was a kiss full of passion
And Mary drew back much afraid;
She prayed for the strength to resist him
And angels soon came to her aid.
She saw a new side to her lover:
A child not getting his way;
His face was distorted by anger
As he said, "Oh, so that’s how you play!"
In seconds he left in the darkness,
His mood just as dark as the night;
The spell that had bound her was broken
And Mary gave thanks for the light!
# # # # # #
With Adam and Eve in the Garden
One sin brought the blackness of night;
And so God has ever ordained it -
One choice can bring darkness or light!
Marian Banducci
"For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
(Psalm 91, Verse 11)
My Living Lord
I talked to You and yet You were
So very far from me -
A statue on a lofty hill -
No breath, no life in Thee.
And then one day I heard Your Name,
A name I’d known so well;
And yet it was completely new -
My listening heart could tell.
The Name of Jesus - oh, so sweet -
A new sound to my ears;
My spirit thrilled to hear that Name
Through all my pain and fears.
And then one day I saw Your face -
My tears of joy flowed free -
No statue, but my Living Lord
Who came to sup with me.
Marian Banducci
His Name
At Christmastime I heard His name
Drowned out by every toy and game,
For "Santa Claus" had so beguiled
My child’s heart, then beating wild.
Then soon I heard His name in song,
In hymns that echoed far and long
Across the threshold of my years,
Yet bringing neither joy nor tears.
His name I heard from angry lips
Pronounced in hate - and mundane quips,
As meaningless as wind and rain
Upon a battered weathervane.
And then one day He came to me
To set my captive spirit free;
And now His name is wondrous fair!
Like sounds of spring upon the air!
Oh Jesus, Jesus, name so sweet
Making all my days complete;
Above all names His name will be
My Door to Life eternally.
Marian Banducci
Blessings on You, Little One!
Little boy with eyes of blue
Loving me as I love you;
Three years old you are today -
What delight you’ve brought my way!
Playing with your birthday toy,
To the world, you’re just a boy;
But to me you’ll always be
God’s enabling gift to me.
Memories now once more return,
How they bruise and how they burn -
Thoughts of bitterness and strife -
God was nowhere in my life.
Clearly I recall the day
I thought you were in the way;
Making plans to murder you,
Thinking it was "right to do."
As I stumbled toward that place
Pale of death upon my face,
Saw a woman standing there,
Held a picture - said a prayer.
Then I glimpsed with startled eyes
Like the lightning marks the skies,
Photo of a baby dead
By abortion......TURNED AND FLED!!
###############
Six months later, child of mine
You appeared like bright sunshine!
Showing me what God can give -
Giving me the will to live!
Little boy with eyes of blue
Loving me as I love you;
Through your life my life’s begun!
Blessings on you, little one!
Marian Banducci
A MOTHER’S WORTH
She rules her little world at home
And wears her crown both night and day;
Her subjects are God’s little ones
Who look to her in every way.
Her scepter is her mother’s love -
The jewels of patience shining there;
From dawn to dusk she gives her all
For children in her watchful care.
There is no one to take her place
For God has chosen her to be
The queen who shapes the souls of men
For time and all eternity!
Marian Banducci
THE "PERFECT CHILD"
Blond of hair and blue of eye -
"LITTLE GIRL, WHY DID YOU CRY?
"YOU CAN BE NO MORE THAN THREE;"
Hugging her, she smiled at me.
Then I saw the blotches there
On this neighbor’s child so fair -
Crimson on her skin so white
Giving me an instant fright.
I had just been told that day:
"NEW LIFE NOW IS ON THE WAY!!"
Child so wanted all these years,
Dream come true - what happy tears!
Soon across the street she came
On her lips the child’s name;
"SHE HAS MEASLES" reached my ears -
Confirmation of my fears.
Now the thoughts like pelting rain -
Anxious thoughts so filled with pain:
Will my child be whole and well?
Terror had me in its spell.
"DOCTOR, TELL ME CAN THERE BE
"SOMETHING YOU CAN DO FOR ME?"
"YOU MUST END THIS LIFE I FEAR -
‘YOU MAY HAVE A MONSTER, DEAR."
As I rose to leave my chair,
Angry words flew through the air;
"NEVER WILL ABORTION BE
"ANY OPTION HERE FOR ME."
Months of waiting, drenched in prayer;
Pro-life doctor - he will care;
Now at last the time is here -
Time of agonizing fear!
"THERE SHE IS - YOUR PERFECT CHILD!"
Said the doctor as he smiled,
Holding her for me to see -
My "LITTLE MONSTER" - Emily.
Those whose hearts are never grateful
"Do you think I’ll make it to Heaven?" she asked
She felt she was losing the battle -
I talked to You and yet You were
Little boy with eyes of blue
She rules her little world at home