She hath wings

It’s not just a story or fairytale

It’s not just a ritual or play –

That is what so many reduce it to

When thinking of Christmas Day.

We may ponder all that came about;

The trip to Bethlehem –

Mary and Joseph and the King

Soon to be born to them.

Yet all of this can seem distant, at best –

A story from long ago;

We get confused with Santa and reindeer

And people singing, “Let it snow!”

The wonder and the awe is gone

When so often, we fail to see

That the power of God that wrought this event

Is working in you and me.

We get into a frenzied state

With shopping and food to prepare, but…

How often do we stop to remember,

That Jesus Christ is there?

Are we not like Martha;

Too busy to stop and learn

From the One we’ve come to celebrate

(And so, our backs, we turn).

Looking everywhere to add

Some meaning to this time,

We gaze back to the rosy past

And into it we climb.

We remember the excitement

When we woke one sunny morn;

We’d venture out of bed and see

That Christmas Day had dawned.

Softly on tiptoe

We would creep into the room,

Where a tree with gifts below it

Seemed to break a spell of gloom.

Now one year after another

Seems to join a train in flight –

These days it seems that all too quickly

Cometh Christmas Night.

And then the season changes

And we’re back to work or school;

What was it that we waited for?

So swiftly goes the Yule.

My friends we have forgotten

That for us, there is a Hope;

While the rest of the world keeps searching

We don’t need to sit and mope.

We celebrate Jesus in December,

But celebrate all year –

Through Jesus you have reason to

Rejoice and be of cheer!

The very same power that brought us Jesus

And conquered death and sin,

Is able to change your heart and mind

Transforming you within!

Let’s not make Christmas a fairytale

That relies on circumstance –

Let’s put God first in every day

And gaze at Him, not glance.

Don’t let another Christmas pass

Without counting the blessings He gave,

And thanking the Lord that Christmas exists

Because He came to save.

© M. Patterson 24.12.2000, edited 15.12.2014