A couple of Christmas lessons

Round about this time every year, I dedicate my column to putting Christ back into Christmas. Something that I feel seems to be missing in more and more Christian households around the world. So, I made my monthly foray into the world wide web and discovered this rather amusing but poignant poem which I have adapted for a South African audience. It is titled: “The Fight before Christmas”.

’Twas the fight before Christmas when all through the house not a good deed was stirring, and Dad was a louse!
Their mother was angry and loaded with care, for the gift list was longer than ever this year!
The children were nagging for gifts worth a ton, and Dad was convinced, “Christmas just isn’t fun!”
With Mom’s loud complaining, and Dad mad at all, they loaded the car for the trip to the mall!
They stopped first at Makro to buy Grandma a platter, Sis tried on jeans that confirmed she was fatter!
They stopped at the ATM for more and more cash, and saw their new neighbours with their Christmas stash!
Hearts sank as they saw what their neighbours could spend, “We’ve got to buy more!” everybody chimed in!
When what, to their shopping red eyes should appear, but a sign with the answer to their Christmas fear.
“Use credit, use VISA, use MasterCard! Just run up their limits, it’s not very hard!”
More rapid than eagles, the charges, they came, and they whistled and shouted and called them by name.
Now Stuttafords, now Dions, Edgars and Woolies. To Hyde Park, Sandton, and finishing at Bennies!
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, their packages piled up; they’d OUT-BOUGHT THEM ALL!!
As dry leaves before wild hurricanes fly, when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky, so flew away hope of a Christmas of joys.
Not a problem was changed by the gifts and the toys. And then, in a twinkling, Dad knew without doubt, they needed to know, “What is Christmas about?”
That night in a dream he saw Bethlehem town, and a babe in a manger with thorns for a crown!
And what Dad saw brought the tears like a flood, Christ’s back was all tarnished where lashes brought blood.
A rugged old cross was His tortuous rack, as He shifted its weight to His now bleeding back.
His eyes, filled with burdens, ’twas nothing there merry, the thorns had no roses, the night became eerie.
His dry thirsty mouth was drawn thin like a bow, and the beard of His chin was plucked out cruelly, and slow.
The cross on His back held him high in His shame, and the soldiers encircled His death with a game.
He had a kind face, in His eyes none saw hate, and He shook when they laughed at His horrible fate.
He was dying for me, took my sins on Himself, and I wept when I saw Him, in spite of myself.
A look in His eye, and the twist of His head, soon gave me to know, I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to His work; and He took all my sin, and then turned with a jerk.
“It is finished,” He said. Death He willingly chose, then  —  GLORY TO GOD  —  from the grave He arose!
Dad sprang from his bed, shouting what Christmas gives. “It’s not all the gifts, but that Jesus now lives!”
So you’ll hear them exclaim, on their next Christmas night, Happy Christmas to all. WHO WILL KEEP CHRISTMAS RIGHT?

And another poem that makes the same point.

There’s no Christmas without Jesus,
It’s to Him our eyes should see.
Not to jolly old Saint Nicholas
Nor a glitt’ring Christmas tree!
Shops in town are decorated
Decked in colours bright and gay
Tinsel lights and shapes created
Merge into one grand display.
“There’s no Christmas without buying
Gifts and toys to give,” they say.
Oh, that they should be realising
All these things will fade away!
Father Christmas is just a story
Reindeer never pulled his sleigh.
Why then, does he get the glory
On this sacred, holy day?
But a baby in a manger
Really lived in Israel:
He was born to be our Saviour
It’s His story we must tell!
I will think of Christ this Christmas,
How He left His throne above,
Gave up all His heav’nly riches
For to manifest His love!
Take the tinsel and the glitter
And the “Santas” all away
For God’s love is far, far greater
Than this man-made grand display!