Merry Christmas
from Ann & Ken Wittig

Where's The Baby?
 Read: Isaiah 7:10-14

The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name
 Immanuel. -Isaiah   7:14

  Two women who were dressed in their finest were having lunch  together
in a very exclusive restaurant. A friend saw them and came over  to their table to greet them.
"What's the special occasion?" she asked.
 One of the women said, "We're having a birthday party for the baby in our family. He's 3 years old today."
"But, where's the baby?" the friend  asked.
The child's mother answered, "Oh, I dropped him off at my  mother's house.
She's taking care of him until the party's over. It  wouldn't have been any fun with him along."

    How ridiculous! A birthday celebration for a child who wasn't welcome  at his own party?
Yet, when you stop to think about it, that's no more
 foolish than going through the Christmas season,
with all of its  festivities, without remembering the One whose birth
we are supposed to  be honoring.

    And that's the way many people celebrate Christmas. In all the
 busyness-the party-going, gift-shopping, and family gatherings-the One
 whose birthday they are commemorating is almost completely forgotten.

    As you move into this holiday season, in all of your good times with
 family and friends, make sure you don't leave out the Lord Jesus. Give
 Him the honor He deserves. -RWD

                     Among the tinsel, trees, and toys
                     Are many signs of Christmas joys,
                     But where's the Christ, whom God sent down,
                     Who laid aside His throne and crown? -Hess

  There is always the danger of keeping Christmas and losing Christ.
-Ironside

When Cherubs Flutter Down

                        In darkened room, I turn the switch
                                And stand before the tree
                              Unbridled halo of heavenly light
                                   Miraculous to see

                            A tickle on my shoulder
                                  Softly ruffling my hair
                              And candlelight starts dancing
                               As golden glitter fills the air

                            This fairyland, which so few know
                               Eludes both time and space
                               This simple land of merriment
                                Reflects in a smiling face

                            My age, it doesn’t matter
                               When cherubs flutter down
                             To the playground of my shoulder
                            Where there are no earthly bounds

THE GIFT OF LOVE

The Christ Child, Savior of us all,
Was born into a lowly stall
He left home to enter in;
Into a world of cold despair
To meet head on His enemies there,
To save us from our sin.

This precious Child so sweetly lay,
To hang upon a cross one day,
This ultimate gift of love.
Then God presented to His Son
Gifts to show He was the One
Sent us word from Heaven above.

But from His birth, this Child was sought.
To be destroyed, evil was wrought
And is working still today,
To remove the image of God's Son
And replace it with a worldly one,
To steal all hope away.

So don't look, as carnal men, and see
The gifts of shepherds and wisemen three,
Those gifts God gave His Son.
But focus on the Light who came,
The Life He offered through His Name,
The Blood He carried in His veins -
God's gift to everyone.

Yet who would think, a babe so small,
Who brought such joy, to one and all,
Would someday give up his own life,
Would suffer & endure such strife.

It makes our problems seem minute,
Our major wars, just a dispute,
Did Mary know her babe so small,
Would give his life to save us all?

    Behold the smoke slow rising
      Above the chimney top,
    Its fragrance advertising
      A bliss that ne'er will stop,
    Recalled e'en in our dreams!
    Ah, here they come, those streams,
          Purest pleasures,
Wrought from forgotten Christmases of yore,
Where we must ever keep abundant store
          Of treasures.

Come, Christmas! Come! And bathe the world in hope:
    So powerful art thou; so broad and wide thy scope!
O'er all the Earth your message bends an ear,
    That thou hast now become almost as dear
        As life itself - sweet balm!
        Bringer of peace!
Spangler of hills with frolicsome new fleece,
        Till all strife turns to calm;
Aye, round about me hearts are comforted
By your advance - forever are we wed!

Merry Christmas, Ken and Ann.  Your poetry page is the best!  Peace to you and yours.

So the children rushed hurriedly into the room
On that glorious Christmas morn
But their minds were all focused on what they would get
No thoughts about Christ being born.

So they tore all the wrapping from the presents away
Wondering what each one would be
And the thought that was formed in the mind of each child-
How many of them are for me?

In a clearing well sheltered by plentiful trees
Standing close to the old railroad track
There lived a young mother with her little girl
In a weather-beaten old shack.

Branches were gathered and brought to the house
And shaped to the form of a tree
Paper decorations cut out by a child
Were hung for all clearly to see

The mother then gathered some pieces of cloth
Some cotton and an old worn out stocking
She sat in the chair and then started to sew
And to and fro she began rocking.

Soon there emerged a most beautiful doll
But its little head seemed to be bare
So the mother cut several locks from her head
To give the doll bright golden hair

And then on that very same clear Christmas morn
The little girl glowed with great joy
As she looked down and gazed at the beautiful doll
Her cherished and only one toy

Oh mother, may I my dear dolly please take
So with my poor friend I can share
I fear such a present my friend will not get
I fear that her tree will be bare.

Yes, my wise little child you have grasped
What so many have failed to learn yet
True meaning of Christmas rings out loud and clear.
"It is better to give than to get."
--

                       Santa laughed and winked at me,
                            When I saw him by the Christmas tree.
                              All in the house were sound asleep,
                               I tried so hard to just not peep.

                                But it was morning after all;
                             The clock chimed two out in the hall.
                              I woke up Mom "Is Santa here?"
                           "Go back to bed, it's too early dear"

                              I just took a peep and he was there,
                          Eating a cookie, sitting in Dad's chair.
                             He just looked up and winked at me,
                            As he placed my present under the tree.

                          Wiggling his finger he said, "come here Son",
                          "Let's you and me have us some fun".
                            "What do you say we switch the names".
                           I thought if we did, I'd take the blame.

                           But Santa he just winked and smiled at me,
                             So I sat on down with shivers of glee.
                           We switched the names with a hee, hee, hee.
                            Then back to bed singing twiddle de de.

                          They sure looked surprised at a doll for Jack,
                        and when Mom opened Dad's climbing pack.
                        Just couldn't stop laughing but I wish I had,
                            As I soon realized that this could be bad.

                            "Is that a white mustache on your lip?"
                            Mom had me scared that she might flip.
                            She was looking just a bit overwrought,
                     So I spoke right up "It's not milk, It's Snot!.

                              "Yes, I swear, I was in bed by ten"
                          "Cookie on my mouth? "It's an M&M".
                             But the jig was up and Santa was gone,
                             I cringed just a bit as I stifled a yawn.

                              I was scared but still ready to plea,
                            But Dad just laughed and winked at me,
                            and then he wiggled his finger with glee.
                           And gave me a present from under the tree.

How I miss that scene
At this time of the year
I think back of long ago
Yes I always shed a tear

As summer days go by
Now I can only recall
Of those christmas nights
The snowflakes would fall

Its summer in Australia
Bright lights on my tree
Thoughts took me back
How Christmas used to be

Brother, sister and parents
I have not seen for years
Every year a little sadness
Each year I shed the tears

Letting all my friends know
Today in verse and rhyme
Wishing you all joy and peace
Especially at Christmas time

In expressing all my gratitude
I feel you all so close to me
Thank you all for sharing time
Although we do this virtually

So now to every one of you
Each one of you I hold dear
To all friends old and new
A merry christmas and
Happy New Year
Hope

Can take a whiz with a map and glass,
To plan St. Nick's trip...couldn't be a lass!
Ah yes, there's a mastermind who routes the eve,
'Tis one you'd not think of, I guarantee.

The route is planned so carefully, too,
Not a moment's lost for me nor you.
It's Mrs. Claus who maps the scheme,
For Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

She sends her spouse 'round the world,
To spread his joy to each boy and girl,
He flies his sleight behind the eight reindeer,
They take a new trip every year.

Each Christmas Eve, they take this long flight,
Shouting, "Merry Christmas to all...
And to all...... a Good Night.

Did morning bring excitement, joy, and peace on earth?
Merry Christmas, for today's the day ... We sing of Jesus' birth.

Children so excited, they could hardly wait till dawn,
Counting all the sugarplums till the last bit of night is gone.

Rushing to the Christmas tree, and waking Mom & Dad,
With the same blind faith and innocence that the baby Jesus had.

May the Lord see fit to let you keep, the happiness and mirth,
Of children on Christmas morning, of Mary, at Jesus' birth.

May this day bring you excitement, joy and peach on earth,
Merry Christmas, for today's the day.......We sing of Jesus' birth.

Check out this poem, displayed with fantastic graphics here.

        So, may your life have joy
        Both now, and for always.
        Each day that you live,
        Not just on holidays.

        God loved the world, and gave His son
        To soothe and bring us together,
        But we must allow His will to be done
        To bring an end to the stormy weather.

The storms of envy, greed and hate
Bring chaos and carnage, to view,
While clouds of indifference would indicate
That, those who care are very few.

        So, please accept this gift of LOVE,
        For I’m just passing it along to you.
        It came down from the Father, above,
        In the form of His son, our Savior, true.

By looking to Him, will the storms abate?
Or--by looking away, will they just increase?
Will the world continue on the road of hate?
When will the chaos and turmoil cease?

Voices are blended in songs of old,
in praise of miracles past.
Resonant harmony lifts all the world,
but the days pass on by, way too fast.

The season of celebration,
needn't stop at holiday's end.
For the promise of life everlasting,
is a guaranteed dividend.

The poems she framed of mine
The nick nacks she gave me over time
I have her pictures hanging on my wall
The stockings she made the kids hanging in the hall

This Christmas might be Mommas last
You see, Momma has cancer and time is passing by fast
This Christmas is special you see
My Momma, she is precious to me.

The kids took their money and picked her gifts from the dollar tree
Each one so special cause they are gifts of the heart from the three
This year the angels will be singing for Momma
This year the angels will be singing to Grandma

The most precious gift to me this year is simply, "Momma"
And the man standing by her side I've always called Papa
We are packing up our gifts and going to see them this year
Singing our songs and spreading the Christmas cheer.

If it is to be her last Christmas, we wish it to be her best
For this Christmas, there will be no regrets
Special memories for her to take with her when she should go
Maybe even stow away a lil of our Indiana snow

We are bringing our gifts for you Momma
I'm bringing the angels to see their Grandma
This year will be full of smiles
Smiles to help Momma through the coming trials

Now it's time for the little angels to sing
Time for Momma to test her own wings
And so this is our special Christmas time
I love you so, My Mother Mine....

Love Always,
Anna Marie, Ayreal, Kristen, Dominick and Jeffrey.

It's Christmas and that little boy over there,
He has not a gift, nor a person who would care.
Do you see that little girl in rags?
She is digging through the garbage bags.

Have a care and give them a dime.
It is Christmas time...
'Tisn't that childs fault for how they are
And you driving that shiney new car.

Give the gift of Christmas, it takes but a moment of your time
Just a moment to show another you are kind
Just a moment to feed one lil mouth this year
Your moment of kindness could bring them a tear

And when the carolers come a singing on your door
Add your voice, let the songs soar
And if you don't believe
Listen anyway, instead of asking them to leave....

When in the mall shoving your way through the crowd
Say "Excuse me", instead of grumbling so loud
And if someone else got that last item you wanted
Say "Oh well" Instead of being daunted

Smile don't frown, pick your gifts with care
And grab a canned good to share
Don't count your pennies count the smiles instead
And think of that lil child you just fed...

Spread the song and cheer through the lands
Take thy neighbors hand
Sing the songs loud
Sing them proud....

Merry Christmas to all
Blessed be to the tiny and small
Bless those that give you that dime
And hug those that are generous and kind...

How could I place myself
Upon dear Santas sleigh
To arrive at your bedside
Delivered  Christmas Day

Would Santa let me ride
Place me upon your bed
Fastened in big red bow
Packaged  green and red

Then Christmas morning
Awaken to your surprise
The box begins to move
I’m laid before your eyes

Slowly you untie the bow
The paper green and red
There I kneel before you
On sheets I would spread

Now wrapped in thought
I’ll think of you on the day
For I cannot be with you
He’s no room on his sleigh

Though I messaged Santa
He gave that hearty cheer
Said he would deliver love
Knowing we can’t be near

Arriving on Christmas morn
Santa’s promised to agree
My thoughts to be opened
Love heart packaged by me

Their prayers being ended, they raised up their heads,
With hearts light and cheerful, again sought their beds.
Tley were lost soon in slumber, both peaceful and deep,
And with fairies in dreamland were roaming in sleep.

Eight, nine, and the little French clock had struck ten,
Ere the father had thought of his children again:
He seems now to hear Annie's half-suppressed sighs,
And to see the big tears stand in Willie's blue eyes.
'I was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said,
'And should not have sent them so early to bed;
But then I was troubled; my feelings found vent,
But of course they've forgotten their troubles ere this,
And that I denied them the thrice-asked-for kiss:
But, just to make sure, I'll go up to their door,
For I never spoke harsh to my darlings before."
So saying, he softly ascended the stairs,
And arrived at the door to hear both of their prayers;
His Annie's "Bless papa" drew forth the big tears,
And Willie's grave promise fell sweet on his ears.
'Strange-strange-I'd forgotten," said he with a sigh,
'How I longed when a child to have Christmas draw nigh."
"I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardly said,
"By answering their prayers ere I sleep in my bed."
Ilen he turned to the stairs and softly went down,
Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing gown,
Donned hat, coat, and boots, and was out in the street,
A millionaire facing the cold, driving sleeti
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything
>From the box full of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store,
That the various presents outnumbered a score.

Then homeward he turned. When his holiday load,
With Aunt Mary's help, in the nursery was stowed.
Miss Dolly was seated beneath a pine tree,
By the side of a table spread out for her tea;
A workbox well fitted in the center was laid,
And on it the ring for which Annie had prayed,
A soldier in uniform stood by a sled
"With bright shining runners, and all painted red.'
There were balls, dogs, and horses, books pleasing to see,
And birds of all colors were perched in the tree!
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the top,
As if getting ready more presents to drop.
And as the fond father the picture surveyed,
He thought for his trouble he had amply been paid,
And he said to himself, as he brushed off a tear,
'I'm happier tonight than I've been for a year;
I've enjoyed more pure pleasure than ever before;
What care I if bank stock falls ten per cent more!
Hereafter I'll make it a rule, I believe,
To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas Eve.'
So thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And, tripping down stairs, retired for the night.

As soon as the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness to flight, and the stars one by one,
Four little blue eyes out of sleep opened wide,
And at the same moment the presents espied;
Then out of their beds they sprang with a bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all of them found.
They laughed and they cried, in their innocent glee,
And shouted for papa to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the night
(just the things that they wanted,) and left before light:
'And now," added Annie, in a voice soft and low,
'You'll believe there's a 'Santa Claus', papa, I know"-
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should be,
And told in soft whispers how Annie had said
That their dear, blessed mamma, so long ago dead,
Used to kneel down by the side of her chair,
And that God up in heaven had answered her prayer.
'Den we dot up and prayed dust well as we tould,
And Dod answered our prayers: now wasn't He dood?"
'I should say that He was, if He sent you all these,
And knew just what presents my children would please.
(Well, well, let him think so, the dear little elf,
'Twould be cruel to tell him I did it myself.")

Blind father! who caused your stem heart to relent,
And the hasty words spoken so soon to repent?
'Twas the Being who bade you steal softly upstairs,
And made you His agent to answer their prayers.

                                    I find I have to force myself,
                                       To put on every light,
                                  For without the joy of children,
                                   They just don't seem as bright.

                                But once the lights are fin'ly strung,
                                  And I turn on Christmas songs,
                                  It's time then, for me to-decide,
                                  Where each ornament belongs.

                                 Listening to the Christmas music,
                                   I grab some coffee or hot tea,
                                   Then unwrap every ornament,
                                    Each means so much to me.

                                    The one with a small picture,
                                      Of Mom & Dad inside,
                                   At first brings tears of sorrow,
                                   Because they both have died.

                                  But then I think of Christmases,
                                   That with them, we did share,
                               And remembering, brings back the fun,
                                    The love, the hope, the care.

                                 The next ones are the beaded ones,
                                     So beautifully, well done,
                              Wish then, I'd known just how much work,
                                       Mom put in everyone.

                                   Next, the homemade ornament,
                                  My daughter painted just for me,
                                   Santa kneeling by the manger,
                                      Seems so natural to me.

                                 Around the side, the white silk ball,
                                   "U.S. Navy" in black and gold,
                               My son's best friend gave me that one,
                                     Another story to be told.

                                 Then one by one I hang the ones,
                                    Crafted with so much care,
                               By grandchildren, with smiles so bright,
                                     And quite an artistic flair.

                                  And one by one I hang the rest,
                                  Now, swiftly, with such panache,
                              As each memory brings that person here,
                                        If only for a flash.

                                  So toss our designer ornaments,
                                 Of one color to match the drapes,
                                And build yourself a "Memory Tree"
                                     Of multi-colored shapes.

                                 For how can you not get the spirit,
                                  With so much love in one room?
                                 So hurry & start your memory tree,
                                 And chase away Christmas gloom!

"GARAGE SALE CHRISTMAS"

                               Here's a plastic deer for Peggy
                                 Looks like he lost his leg
                               But I found him in the free box
                               Right next to some Easter eggs

                               A genuine Hummel for grandma
                               From the big house up the street
                              Too bad its head is glued back on
                                And he lost both of his feet

                            An orange, polyester jumpsuit for Sally
                                   I bought it for a dime
                            It says, "San Francisco Jail" on the back
                                  But, didn't she do time?

                                A Mexican Rolex for grandpa
                                   It only cost a quarter
                                  Do you think he'll mind
                                 That it doesn't keep time
                              And I smuggled it over the border?

                                  Here's a mink for Robin
                                   Its fur is getting thin
                                Let's put it in the dryer on air
                               But first we'll have to catch him

                                 For our Baby Boomer pals
                                     A pile of 33's
                                And a broken down turn table
                                 And I got them all for free

                               Then, there's that rare lava lamp
                                    Good gracious!
                                      What a find
                            It's going to my friends from Bible camp
                                 I know they'll like it fine!

                              Look what I found for the in-laws
                                A couple of like new games
                                 "Manacles and Shackels"
                                        and
                                "Tip of the Whip for Dames"

                              Looks like a garage sale Christmas
                               White elephants 'neath the tree
                                   We ain't got much
                                  But a couple of bucks
                                  Buys gifts for the family