The children grew and scattered

And with every passing year

The days with them seemed fewer And time spent with them more dear.

* The Christmases we used to have When they were, oh, so small Were frantic, loud, and lovely

And we relished in them all!

*

We counted down the days until

Thanksgiving Day was done For then we’d decorate the house…

Put up the tree, what fun!

* Excitement mounted day by day

And Christmas lists grew long

We hurried out to crowded malls And pushed on through the throng…

*

All of it was heaven

All the laughter, all the noise All the baseballs, all the go-carts… All the things that make up boys.

* They grew older, as it happens

And they fancied other things Like souped up cars and music Pretty girls and diamond rings.

*

The stockings on the mantle That were handmade years ago

Were showing signs of aging

Moths had eaten one whole toe.

*

“Oh well, it’s just the way things are”

My husband said to me “They’re grown now and it’s different… Christmas eve’s just you and me.”

*

So as I listened to the carols

Silver Bells and Silent Night Small voices echoed through the house

Things just didn’t feel quite right.

* I watched the clock tick off the hours

And thought of seasons past And wondered why the happy times

Just never seem to last

*

With hubby nearby sound asleep

I longed for noise once more For children laughing, playing games Running in and out the door.

* What happens to a family When its young ones fly the coop? Will Christmas cease to visit then

If only “two” make up the group?

*

Was it Christmas now at our house

Or had Santa passed us by? Did he point his reindeer further north When he heard my muffled cry?

*

He couldn’t see the tree lights

Since I didn’t buy a tree Did he sense the lack of wonder

Could he feel the loss of glee?

* Just what was it that stole from us

The joy of Christmas Day

Self-pity, anger, apathy?

Would it always be this way?

* I thought of all these things one night While the wind howled at the door And wondered then just why it was

I don’t sing carols anymore

*

I glanced outside my window

As I sat there on my knees And a thousand little twinkling stars

Winked at me atop the trees

*

“I came to give you joy that night”

Someone whispered in my ear “And laughter, peace, and love untold To all those that you hold dear.

*

So don’t be sad and lonely

And feel empty all inside For you, I opened heaven’s gates

For you, I bled and died.”

*

I recognized the voice I heard

As the one who’d saved my soul,

The one who took me like I was Cleaned me up and made me whole.

*

He gave me precious children

To have a little while To train, to love, and then let go

And to let go with a smile.

*

So even if our house is quiet

On Christmas eve this year It doesn’t mean that we can’t have

A season full of cheer.

*

I’ll count my blessings, one by one

They’re around me everywhere My health, my sons, my “daughter,” too And that man snoring in the chair!

*

My mama, sis, and all the rest

Are “presents” from above And the baby born that Christmas night

Is God’s Gift to us, His Love.

*

So, I’ve got some catching up to do

I hope it’s not too late to start For if Christmas comes at all this year It must begin first… in my heart.

Merry Christmas to all and

to all a good night!