Doorways

The door stands open

To pass through

Or

To stay

Within

I pause

Wondering if 

What lies beyond

Is

Worth the risk

One step

Then another

Moving forward

Across

The threshold

I cross

Into a new day

Facing the future

Embracing

The past

Moving on

-MLD 2012

Christmas poems...

For the last several years I have written poems for Christmas and given them to family and friends. They are not fancy or particularly fine, but some people seem to like them, so I thought I might share a few here. If you like them and want to share them, great... if not, that's okay too... :-) As I find a few more I'll share them as well....

 (If you do like or share them, feel free to leave a comment... yeah... guess I'm kind of needy that way... lol)

It’s the time of the year when we all gather ‘round

To sing well-known carols with a sweet, joyful sound

We give to our families, our neighbors, our friends

It’s the one time of year that we hope never ends

We hear stories of reindeer and elves and a sleigh

With a jolly old man who gives gifts away

But the story that makes the whole season so dear

Is the story of a child who would help conquer fear

It’s the story of angels and shepherds on a night

When a star in the heavens shone oh so bright

With a manger and stable and swaddling bands

The child was held in Mary’s gentle hands

With Joseph at watch through the night dark and deep

The child slumbered calmly in Heavenly peace

And that’s what is special about that long ago night

When Heaven came to Earth - what a glorious sight  

At this Holiday time comes my wish for us all

For a world full of love, peace, and  kindness for all

 - Melinda Durrant

   December 2009

We know that gifts aren't only found

Wrapped beneath a tree

There are things we give each other

The world just cannot see

Like the gift of time that's given

Through a visit to a friend

Or the sense that someone cares

As a listening ear we lend

There are gifts of home and family

That money cannot buy

And we know that if we need a hand

On our friends we can rely

There are gifts of hope and comfort

Given freely from the heart

It's these gifts we give each other

That set us all apart

So thank you all for sharing

Your homes and families, too

A hope for peace and happiness

Is our special wish for you

           Melinda L. Durrant

                 December 2008

It’s Christmas


When Mary, fair, brings forth her newborn child
When Joseph watches humble, meek and mild
It’s Christmas


When a new star shines its light upon the earth
When shepherds keeping watch rejoice His birth
It’s Christmas


When with joy the heavenly choirs of angels sing
When Wise Men gifts of priceless value bring
It’s Christmas


When a stranger stops to lend a helping hand
When goodwill to all is spread throughout the land
It’s Christmas


When the sound of children’s laughter fills the air
When the world is filled with joy and not despair
It’s Christmas


When we gather with our friends and family near
When we share our love and hope for the new year
It’s Christmas


For Christmas comes this once a year to show
The love our Father sends so all will know
It’s Christmas

By: Melinda L. Durrant

December 2008

We celebrate the Savior's birth

Born with men to live on Earth

Our Heavenly Father's gift of love

Sent to Earth from Heaven above

The greatest gift that we can do

Is serve our neighbors - me and  you

The Light of Christmas shines so bright

Through gifts of service day and night

That special feeling in the air

That shows each person that we care

May Christmas fill your heart with peace

May love and goodwill never cease

Melinda L. Durrant

December 2006

Santa Claus is on his way
With all his reindeer and his sleigh


The elves have worked so hard all year
To bring each child some Christmas cheer


The list was checked – first once…then twice
To see who’s naughty and who’s nice


He’s loaded up his magic sack
With dolls and trucks and trains on tracks


A whistle to his four-legged crew
Begins his yearly trip anew


To spread the smiles and love and joy
With every little girl and boy


Melinda L. Durrant
December 2006

Christmas time has come again

With hopes for peace among all men

Little ones hurry with holiday glee

As they gather to sit on Santa Claus' knee

The sweet sound of carols ring through the street

As loved ones and neighbors and friends gladly meet

Exchanging best wishes and holiday cheer

Remembering fondly the fast fading year

Reflecting again on the ultimate reason

We join together to honor the season

For one baby born long ago, far away

Changed the whole world on that First Christmas Day

Mary and Joseph held the child so dear

While Angels and Shepherds and Wise Men were near

As the Father sent down his Gift from above

Bringing Hope to the world through his Infinite Love

Melinda Durrant

December 2005

T h i s   t i m e   o f   y e a r 

 S e e m s   t o   b r i n g 

 A   m a g i c   t o u c h 

 T o   e v e r y t h i n g 

 T h e   f r o s t y   a i r 

 T h e   f r o z e n   t o e s 

 T h e   f i r e ' s   w a r m t h 

 T h e   c a n d l e s '   g l o w 

 W i t h   q u i e t   a c t s 

 O f   k i n d n e s s   s h o w n 

 O u r   h e a r t s   a r e   c h e e r e d 

 O u r   h o p e s   h a v e   g r o w n 

 G o o d   f r i e n d s   a n d   f a m i l y 

 G a t h e r i n g   ' r o u n d 

 V o i c e s   r a i s e 

 I n   j o y f u l   s o u n d 

 W e   c e l e b r a t e 

 T h e   I n f a n t ' s   b i r t h 

 T h e   S o n   o f   G o d 

 C o m e   t o   E a r t h 

   -   M e l i n d a   L .   D u r r a n t 

 D e c e m b e r   2 0 0 3

Soaring

                                                                       

                 Amidst the cobalt blue

                                                Scattered drops of rainbow
                                       Soar heavenward
                                                                    Unimpeded
                                                                               By gravity
                                                       No mortal shackles
                                          To keep them
                                                                       Earthbound
                                                                                        Carrying treasures
                                                                                Precious messages
                                                                           Beyond sight

- MLD, July 2011

Sowing...

It came to me
When I was young
That I would never be
       A great philosopher
       A healer of wounds
       A doer of mighty deeds
       A finder of hidden treasure
I am but a gardener
Simply a planter of seeds
A waterer of saplings
Encouraging tender shoots to burst forth
Eventually
Overshadowing the gardener
As branches stretch ever nearer
The great vast expanse
I am not forlorn
That the world
Knows not my name
I am content
That the seed sown
In the midst of the tumult
Has thrived and now
Sends forth seeds of its own
For me to plant
And nurture
And love

Trials

I wrote this poem for a very dear friend. I hope it helps in some small way.

Trials

It's hard to understand right now

The trials that you face

You wonder what transpired

To lead you to this place

You ponder shoulds and might have beens

The what-if's and if-onlys

Sometimes surrounded by a crowd

You still feel awfully lonely

"I'm not sure if I can take this, Lord."

You say as you're down on your knees

"Please give me the courage and strength to go on."

You send up to Heaven your pleas

And then you hear a whisper

So gently it wisdom imparts

A tender and loving prompting

That speaks to your troubled heart

"My child, I'm right here beside you

I'll never leave you alone

I know your trials and struggles

I've taken them on as my own."

"The road ahead may be rocky

Filled with bumps along the way

But dearest child, I'm ever near

I hear you when you pray."

"I know the prayers that fill your heart

When it feels like you can't go on

My Comforter I'll send to you

He'll help you to hold on."

"I love you more than words can say

I ache each time you cry

My heart is overflowing

My Spirit ever nigh."

"This time will not last forever

Though right now that may not seem true

Still, in due time all will be well

'Til then I'll carry you."

As quickly as it came

The gentle whisper departs

Leaving in its place a sense

Of peace and calm in your heart

He wants to have you understand

You are loved beyond compare

A precious soul He did create

A Royal and Heavenly heir

So lean upon His promises

They'll help to see you through

Reach out to Him with prayer and hope

He's reaching out to you

Melinda Durrant - June 2011

The Struggle

It’s tough I know to grow up right now

There’s temptation everywhere you look

It seems so harmless and risk-free

You don’t realize that is the hook

That drags you under before you know-

You’re fighting for your life

It seems to hold you tight until

You’re filled with confusion and strife

You wonder if the choices you’ve made

Have any chance of being forgiven

You wonder if you have the strength

To change and keep striving for Heaven

The stumbling blocks in your path right now

Seem to rise up and bar your way

But, those stumbling blocks turn to stepping stones

When you take time to sincerely pray

There is no choice that you can make

That will ever lessen His love

He only seeks to lead you back

To your Heavenly home, above

So keep on trying to resist

The temptations that mark your road

Remember  our Father has promised you

That he’ll not give you too heavy a load

We all will fall, and fail, and sin

Mistakes are a part of the test

But repentance and forgiveness will

Help give us a hope for the best

So, if you try and if you fall

Don’t give up, just keep fighting on

Keep reaching for the Iron Rod

That will lead you safely on

Avoid the mists of darkness

That would tempt you to stray from the path

Don’t look at the spacious building

Where the wicked will mock and laugh

Instead let your hand firmly grasp

The Rod with all your might

Focus on the Eternal rewards

You will earn at the end of this fight

Think ahead to the future beyond what you see

Beyond the haze of the world as it is

Don’t let a few stolen moments of fleeting bliss

Threaten the joy of being eternally His

Sometimes it will be lonely

You’ll wonder if there is only you

But rest assured that there are more

Who are watching out for you

On Earth right now and beyond the Veil

There are people who really care

People who will try their best

To help you to make it There

There to your Heavenly Father

There with a family so dear

There where our own Elder Brother

Will greet us and beckon us near

This life is a test, and a tough one at that

So keep the Enemy far, far away

Seek only the ones who enlighten your life

Seek the ones who will help on the way

You are worth so much more than you may ever know

You are worth all He suffered for you

Your life is of value far greater than gold

Far greater – if you only knew

For you have a royal birthright

Given before your mortal life began

A noble and special calling

That will help fulfill His Plan

Don’t give it all up because you’re feeling some doubts

Do not let the Adversary succeed

Hold fast to the Truths you’ve been taught in your youth

Hold fast I most earnestly plead

 Call out to Him when you feel lost and afraid

When you feel that you’d like to give up

He’ll send the Comforter as a help

Who will lift and buoy you up.

 Spend time on your knees and in studying His words

Fill your mind with worthy things

And you will know the lasting joy

That a well-lived life will bring.

-Melinda Durrant

June 2011

Another year ends...

Here is a poem that I wrote for my staff this year. 

Our lives are full of changes

That’s what we’ve all been told

And when we’re faced with those changes

We must choose to be timid or bold

When facing the challenges ‘round us

We must choose to advance or retreat

We must resolve to battle onward

Or choose to accept our defeat

And though some battles may seem to be hopeless

When we are facing them day after day

There is always the hope we can conquer

When we forge right into the fray

So - carry on through the challenges we’re facing

With courage and compassion to spare

Encourage our students and guide them

Let them know just how much that you care

Face each day with the knowledge

That your positive impact will be

Felt longer than you can imagine

With each of the people you meet

  Melinda L. Durrant

          May 26, 2011

Thank you for all that you do to help our school. I hope that you have a wonderful summer.