Christmas Is

Christmas is
A time of parties and one more gift to buy
Tis the season for silver bells and cash register bells
The stores greatest sells on clothing, electronic,
And best buys on new toys, for old and new alike.
Every store offers cards so we can spend more than we have,
Or layaway or buy now and pay latter plans.
They hope we spend enough to carry them through the year.
The television reminds us just how much the Jones’ have,
Moreover, just how much we need to spend to keep up with them.
We would not want a family member to feel second-class
If they did not have everything, they could want.
And while we are at it we may as well indulge ourselves
As we exclaim we are worth it.
We rush to post office and fed x with our prizes.

Christmas is
A time to remember the good old days,
Write cards and visit with family,
Especially those we never see
Or call the rest of the year.
Some are separated by miles but in our hearts
Others are near by far from our hearts
So we do our duty once a year and seen a card.

Christmas is
It is a time of endless parties to be seen at,
Parties to show off all we have,
Parties to rub noses with the right kinds of people.
Parties that we are required to be at but do not desire be.
Parties that take up the whole calendars until they become a chore.
Just how do we manage to be in two places at once?
May be if we are lucky walking under the mistletoe.
We are so busy doing that we have little time,
For showing, I love you.

Christmas is
A time to set out a feast.
There are pies to make and cakes to bake.
Cookies that need frosting.
Turkeys that need deep-fried
And hams that need baked in pineapple or honey.
Oh, and don’t forget the cornbread dressing,
Green bean and, sweet potato casseroles.
Hot steaming roles, and homemade breads.
Chips and dips for the football game of course.
We wear ourselves out cooking,
We overeat, and still come back for one more bite.
We share our regrets for the year
And hopes for the New Year.

Christmas is
Reading The Night Before Christmas
Waiting for Santa Nick to appear
With his team of reindeer.
Watching: A Wonderful Life,
Frost the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Scrooge.
Roasting chestnuts on a warm fire
After making snow angles.
It is reminding anxious kids that
Santa is making a list and checking it twice
So they had better be good.
Sing carols on the doorsteps,
And the yearly trip to church to hear the choir performance.
And complaining the preacher took to long.
Did we really need two alter calls?

Christmas is
Yards strung out with lights
Blinking bright red and green.
Bells, snowmen, candy canes, reindeer
Santa, elves, sleighs and packages
Overflowing onto the yards and roofs.
Trees filling the room with the smell of fir.
Decorations are hung all around
Bows and Ribbon of every color,
Stockings of every shape and size.
Boxes big and small
Underneath the tree and hid around the house.
Our prized gift picked out, shaken,
Ready to be opened first.
Assume we don’t peak first.

Christmas is all these things.
However, Christmas is first and foremost
A celebration of a birthday,
A precious holy child, God’s only son.
Told by the songs of the angels.
Proclaimed by the shepherds.
Worshiped by the wise men.
God Himself left heaven to dwell among us.
The child, an example of how much he loves us.
His gift to all mankind
That we might be free of sin and death.
If we choose to accept and open the gift.
A call to come home once again
To fall down an worship,
Bringing gifts to a King,
And Prince of Peace.
Offering up thanks for all He has done.

Governments that were not in existents
When he was born 2000 years ago
Can rule we cannot put up a manager.
They can rename the holiday and take the Christ out.

They cannot take what He did away.
Only we can choose to remember and celebrate or not
Only we can open the gift and say thank you.
Only we can save time to spend with Him.
Only we can offer up our praise.
What are you doing for Christmas?

Kathy Barnes
Copyright 12-10-08