Poem is where the heart is

“Men and women everywhere sigh on Dec. 26 and say they’re glad

Christmas is all over for another year. But it isn’t over. ‘Unto you

is born a Saviour.’ It’s just beginning! And it will go on forever.”

-- EUGENIA PRICE

On Christmas Eve, my family was blessed in many ways. One of the

ways was that my brother-in-law Dave read us a poem he’d written, and

I want to share it with you today. It is titled “Christmas Poem” and

was his reflections on Christmas 2002:

Well, we’ve had some rain and we’ve had some sun,

Leading up to this evening of fun.

But now we’re together, we’re all here,

So let’s begin with a glass of cheer!

It always seems to get busy preparing for the big day,

But we always get through it, we always find a way.

Between the cooking, the parties, decorating and shopping,

From one place to another, Christmas time keeps us hopping.

To be sure, the demands are stressful this time of year,

We rush around like crazy, always in high gear.

We light the house and we trim the tree,

It’s all part of the festivities for you and for me.

But with so much to do and so little time, things can get bumpy,

Which sometimes spoils the fun, and we get a little grumpy.

In the checkout line with the other shoppers we tassel,

Sometimes those department stores can be a downright hassle!

Year after year, we keep up the pace,

And I don’t like to admit it, but it feels like a race.

We scurry here and there hoping to get it all done,

It reminds me of high school cross-country and a long-distance

run!

But remember, it’s for the children that our work must get done,

We put forth the effort for their smiles and their fun!

Because when you’re young, you’re always looking under the tree,

To see which packages with your name there might be.

As parents, we’ve all shared a similar plight,

Of staying up late and wrapping all night.

We’ve all stayed up late to get the toys wired,

And we all understand the true meaning of “minor assembly

required.”

But now, as we’ve gathered on this Christmas Eve,

Let’s turn all our thoughts to what we believe.

This season’s to celebrate this one special day,

The birth of our Saviour who arrived in a mystical way.

And the best gift of all is the one that He gave,

That in our belief our lives would be saved.

So let’s all rejoice in the gift God did bring,

And lift up our voices with angels and sing,

“God came to Earth to be with us tonight,

And the gift of his love makes Christmas just right!”

Thank you, Dave, for the gift of your poem. Thank you, God, for

the gift of your son -- a gift we can truly enjoy, share and

celebrate any and every day.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.