It is coming to that time of the year where we celebrate
Xmas and the dawning of a new year. Another year gone with
memories good and bad, happy and sad. As we get older more
and more of our friends and family are taken from our lives.
Some sadly early and some having lived a full life. So let
us all remember the loved ones that we can no longer call
upon and those who have been struck down with illness.
Sometimes these losses are very hard to bear but with the
help and support of our friends and family we have to find
the strength to go on. I wrote a very moving poem about this
a few years back and would like to share it with
you...........

One Life

Have you ever sat and wondered if life is but a painful
dream
That you may well be living in some spectral long lost time
Do you feel that life's expectations are not always what
they seem
Can you think about a moment when your life was incredibly
sublime
Or a time when you felt so exceptionally happy you could
cry
But then comes upset, pain and heartache and we ask the
reason why

Look into your soul and seek the answer truly with your
heart
For honesty is fundamental to the answers that we seek
In this life of ours we all have a special human part
And the pain and hurt we sometimes face must never make us
weak
Never give up hope or do things that you may regret
Life should be valued for it’s a precious gift let's not
forget

If we really feel that our existence is for a worthwhile
reason
Then we must not let our old adversaries pain and heartache
have their way
Instead we should all look forward to each and every season
Make the most of life and enjoy our time as if it was our
last living day
For in this life there are other folk who are so much worse
than us
Despite pain, illness and hardship they never ever make a
fuss

The very act of growing old is not really all that bad
With age there comes more wisdom, tolerance and grace
There is also more time to reflect on the good times that
we've had
Enjoying a sense of contentment as life takes on a slower
pace
With our caring friends and family as our source of strength
and pride
Taking strength from one another we'll take most troubles in
our stride

So our lives should not be thought as just a painfull, sad
enigma
We have one chance in this world and we must really make it
count
Not waste our time or cause any pain we don't want that sort
of stigma
Love, caring and forgiveness are the values we must take as
paramount
So we must make the best of this life and be good to our
family and friends
For when our life is over we can't come back to make amends

Fred Dickson