Martha Mann Sewell

IT HAD BEEN A HARD YEAR FOR SANTA
A LITTLE GIRL LEARNS LESSON IN SHARING


As this special time of the year draws near, I find myself thinking of a Christmas many years ago when I was a small child, and a lesson I learned which made me a less selfish and more thoughtful person.
It was in the early years of the depression. I lived with my parents, and nine brothers and sisters on a farm in Kentucky, on the Licking River.
It had been an extremely hard year (I was to learn...

" A MOMENT WITH GOD "
DEAR GOD; HELP ME TO HOLD FAITH IN THE ENDEAVORS OF MY LOVED ONES.GRANT ME THE PATIENCE TO KNOW THEIR INNER SELVES.
WHO AM I TO EXPECT ONLY PERFECTION FROM THOSE CLOSES'T TO ME? MANY ARE THE TIMES, I TOO,HAVE ERRED.
SHOW ME THE NEEDLESSNESS OF WORRY AND TENSION OVER AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE; LET ME PLACE MY TROUBLES IN THY HANDS,THEN GO ABOUT MY TASKS IN A SERENE CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.
WHY DO I FEEL FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN? ...

A Valentine's Day Poem For Mother
by Cindy Sewell-Martin
written in 1985


Dear Mom,

Roses are red,
Violets are blue
There's not another mother
Who could hold a candle to you.

After raising ten kids of your own
And grandchildren too,
How did you do it mom?
You deserve a ribbon of blue.

All those years with hot breakfasts on the table
Before we went to school,
And hot dinners when we came home
You never ran out of...

Mother dear, it IS you I hear
It IS you I hear
Whispering in my ear.

You have come to visit
And now it is clear
I feel so happy
That you are near.

I felt your touch
And your warm embrace
I felt your soft skin
As I stroked your face.

As I cried in your arms
Your voice did soften
You said that your fine
And you would come back often.

Let it be true
Now that I can see you
And I hear your voice
Like I did with sister...

Mother dear, is that you I hear?
> I'm having some dreams,
> They're just not clear.
>
> I'm missing you so
> and Christmas is near
> The best gift of all
> Would be knowing you are here.
>
> What am I to do if I can't see you
> I'm hearing your voice
> Speaking kindly to me
> And I'm happy for that,
> If that's all that will be.
>
> If only in my dreams I see you
> That's what we agreed,
> I'll be so delighted
> We did succeed.
>...

When I first met Martha, she had just cooked Sunday dinner, for all of her family and a few that weren't-I don't know how she cooked such a large meal and everything was still hot at the same time. She had the patience of Jobe and was always ready to lend a helping hand to anybody in need. I wish I knew everything she had forgotten. She was one of the most giving people I have ever met.I ask her one time how she did everything she did and her words were " make a list-start at the top and...

SHE SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL WOMAN. I WISH I HAD KNOWN HER. SHE MUST HAVE BEEN A WONDERFUL MOTHER, BECAUSE SHE RAISED A SLEW OF GREAT KIDS, AND I FEEL PRIVELEDGED TO BE A FRIEND TO MANY OF THEM. GOOD LUCK IN THE REST YOUR LIVES, I KNOW SHE IS PROUD OF YOU ALL.

As I was going through some things of my mothers,I ran across a letter that she had written to the editor of the Middletown Journal years ago,in the 70's or 80's,I'm not sure; here is a story she had submitted titled,"I'm Thankful For The Memories."
As Christmas comes from the word Christ,I like to refer to the Christmas holiday as the birthday of Christ,in preference to Christmas. Many people don't know the meaning of a real Christmas. To me"peace on earth" is the best way we can...