What's all the excitement? Is a celebration taking
place?
What's all this good cheer spreading through the human
race?
Are those candles in the windows, glowing nightly after
dark?
I believe I saw lights twinkling on the trees down in
the park!
All the stores downtown look different. Folks are smiling
everywhere.
I hear music, hear bells ringing. What's that
"spirit" in the air?
I went home to visit Mama. She'd baked
cookies, cakes and pies.
And Mama looked real happy with a
twinkle in her eyes.
Sis was there too, wrapping presents with bright paper,
pretty bows.
When I asked her what was happening, she said
"Everybody knows
it's the birthday of our Savior! Long ago He
came to earth,
left His throne as King in Heaven, and came
down by humble birth."
I knew what Sis was saying, but I thought I'd better
see
if my family remembered and felt happy, same as
me.
Each year we'd read the scriptures telling all about the
glory
of the angels telling shepherds to "go see." You know
the story!
Little town of Bethlehem, shepherds come, and wisemen
bring
gold and myrrh and frankincense. That cruel Herod,
king,
hoped to find the Baby Jesus so he'd never be a
part
of the kingdom Herod wanted in his deceitful, evil
heart.
Mary held that tiny baby, warm and sweet and fair of
face.
Joseph must have felt such wonder at God's gift of love
and grace.
We've heard it sung in carols down at church,
we've seen it played
in drama with the actors in costume upon
the stage.
It warms our hearts and brings to mind good times of
Christmas past.
But do we stop to think that all year long
this joy should last?
We must not forget God loved us, sent
His precious, only Son.
We must tell the world the reason for
this cheer and noise and fun.
It's because we've been forgiven of our sins. God made a
way
to have our sin debt paid for us, so we'd not have to
pay.
If we just trust in Jesus, ask forgiveness, we will
see
we can celebrate in Heaven 'round God's throne eternally.
Jo S. McCracken
From my book, "Poems From The Heart,"
Copyright © 1997, 1998
All Rights Reserved
