Page 73 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2021- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

the Carpenter

by Jess Peterson

I wrote the following poem over twenty years ago. It But, as I hope the poem reminds
may not be the best in poetic composition, but it still you, we’re not the only busy ones
touches me to read it. I hope it touches you as well. at Christmas. God is much busier
than we are. And while we are
resting after the “shop is closed,”
The shop is closed for Christmas. He continues at work. There’s no Inspiration
All the workers have gone home question to most of us that our
To celebrate with each family the joys that they world is messed up these days.
have known. There’s scarcely a place to look or
But The Carpenter remains behind, turn that we don’t see something,
Alone in a dim-lit room, someone in disarray. Our
Examining His creations and the work that is politicians tell us that they are
yet to be done. going to fix it, but we know that

they can’t. Only God can fix what
One will need some sanding, Satan has messed up. And after
Another a polishing job, the “shop is closed”, He stays
A third must be put back together again, busily at work polishing, sanding,
For the old wood has started to rot. painting, repairing, shining His
light on a broken world.
Still others will need a Master's touch,
With a sense of His loving care, So, let’s open our hearts and
As He wisely applies with the smallest brush minds this holiday season to
The right color where the wood is now bare. a Child, to a Carpenter, to a
King—and to the wonders of
So as the shop is closed for Christmas, His mercy and grace—and let
And the workers have all gone home, Him mend our broken lives! …
Look for The Carpenter to lift up your life Oh, and remember, God will be
And caress you as His own. around after Christmas as well to
help with whatever went wrong
For The Carpenter always remains at His work, during the holidays.
And if we look through the dim of the night,
We can see Him putting us together again God bless you and yours
And making us shine in His light. throughout this beautiful season!

And so, as you celebrate Christmas,
Remember the rough-hewn hands
Of the One who came as a Child, now a King,
He Who leads us to heavenly lands.

The holidays can be extremely busy times for us—
putting up lights and decorations, shopping for that
perfect gift, cooking those special meals, getting together
with friends, enjoying concerts and special events,
attending church services, and spending time with
family. It tires me just to write it all down. And my list is
probably not exhaustive. I wonder sometimes where we
find the time for rest. And maybe even where we find the
time for life during these hectic days. I don’t know how
my wife and I got through it all before we retired.

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