The TRUE Meaning of Christmas

Hey everybody... I promised I'd post a Christmas poem today, so now I'm doing it! I wrote this quite a few years ago when I felt disillusioned by the whole "commercialization" of Christmas. With the way that Jesus has been getting pushed out of the schools, law offices, courtrooms, government offices, and everywhere else there isn't a steeple, I think it still has relevance today. I hope you enjoy it. Have a Merry Christmas, say a prayer or two or two thousand for our troops who will lay their lives on the line for our freedom this holiday, and say "Happy Birthday" to the soldier who made the ULTIMATE sacrifice for us all. And now without further ado...

~The Meaning of Christmas~

When winter arrives and snow coats the ground,

Thoughts of friends and loved ones begin to come 'round.

Wreaths of green and bows of red,

Announcing a season that some of us dread.

Shoppers race to-and-fro, they push and they shove,

To secure all the gifts that their family will love.

Houses aglow with twinkling lights,

As children await the most famous of nights.

When a jolly, old elf will alight on their roof,

His reindeer step lively, quick on the hoof.

The old man descends,

Down the chimney he comes.

To munch cookies and milk,

To leave dolls, trains and drums.

With a flick of the nose he'll be back up the chute,

To continue his journey, delivering loot.

When morning has broken,

The children awake.

They rush to the tree,

Of the gifts to partake.

Ripping at paper and pulling on ribbon,

They don't stop to think why these gifts they've been given.

So please, won't you turn to your children and say,

"These gifts are not why we are all here today."

Christmas is not for the presents or carols or lights,

For Santa or reindeer or snowflakes of white.

But for a sweet baby, a manger-born boy,

Sent down to guide us and bring us great joy.

The angels they lifted their voices on high,

To soothe the dear child with God's lullaby.

Peasants and shepherds, mighty lords and great kings,

All came to town, great gifts they did bring.

Gold and silver, incense and myrrh,

Rubies and diamonds and coats made of fur.

All for the child, who knew not His power,

But who knew now of love in this glorious hour.

"Merry Christmas" alone does not say it all,

"Happy Birthday dear Jesus" should be what we call.

For Christmas is not just a gift-giving season,

The birth of our Lord -- now there, that's the reason!

So when you say "Merry Christmas," please remember one thing:

That this day is for Jesus our Savior

The newborn King!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.