My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.

For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Golden Cobwebs

The Christmas tree stood by the parlor door,
But the parlor door was locked
And the children could not get inside
Even though they knocked.
For a Christmas tree must wait, folks say,
And not be seen till Christmas Day.
But the cat had seen the Christmas tree
As she prowled the house by night,
And the dog has seen the Christmas tree
By the moon's enchanting light;
And a little mouse beside her hole
Had looked at it with eyes of coal.
Even the spiders hoped to see
The secret, silent Christmas tree.

They planned, one day, to creep and crawl
Out of their cracks and up the wall
To get the highest view of all.
But just that day with mop and broom
The housemaid swept them from the room
And so the spiders could not see
The secret, silent Christmas tree.

The fairies heard the spiders weep,
All on a winter's night,
Although their cries made softer sounds
Than moth wings make in flight.
The fairies said: "Each living thing
"That creeps, or crawls, or flaps a wing
"Shall share the birthday of the King."

They took the spiders to the tree
And, since they were too small
To see as far as cat or mouse,
The fairies, let them crawl
Along each twig and bending branch
To look at every ball
And silver star and popcorn string;
And when they had seen everything
They thanked the fairies and went back
Each one to sleep inside his crack.

But, oh, the tree when they were gone
Was very sad to look upon!
Its branches were more gray than green
And little webs hung in between
That dulled the lights and all the sheen.

The fairies shook their heads and sighed,
For in their wisdom, ever wide,
They knew no housewife cared to see
Dull cobwebs on a Christmas tree.
They knew the children, too, would weep
To waken from their yuletide sleep
And glimpse a tree all bearded gray
That would not shine on Christmas Day...

And so they turned the webs to gold
By waving fairy wands, I'm told;
And that is why there'll always be
Bright cobwebs on a Christmas tree.
~ Rowena Bennett ~

Christmas in Heaven

Christmas Eve - the sky was grey
In a teeming city, the people seemed gay
As they walked along on the lighted street
The snow cracked quietly under their feet.
They carried packages large and small.
She wondered if they held a big baby doll.
With joyful twinkles in their eye
People hurried along and passed her by.
Faintly she leaned on a huge lamp post
With her toes and fingertips eaten by frost
She held Christmas roses toward the crowd
"Buy Mister, please buy them," she shouted aloud.
But they rushed along - and passed her by
Shrugged their shoulders, and she gave a sigh.
Tears trickled slowly down her cheek
She was cold and hungry and so very weak.
Her name was Ann - she had just turned seven.
Her Mommie was sick - and her Daddy, in heaven.
She hugged her roses with a humble intent
And she prayed, "Dear Lord Jesus, please do send
Someone, who is really kind and good -
So I can go home to Mommie and buy some food!"
Along came a man, with a beautiful girl
All dressed in fur, on her forehead a curl
As she strolled along on the arm of her Dad -
She thought to herself, "Now they aren't sad."
And she called, "Buy my flowers, they are so nice
And really very cheap in price.
Just a quarter a dozen, don't you see -
They will look so lovely on your Christmas tree."
But the beautiful girl wrinkled her nose
And said to her Dad, "You won't buy I suppose
They aren't nice, I don't like them at all
I love shiny ornaments that look like a ball."
And on they went and left her behind -
She thought they were charitable, good and kind.
No more could she stand on her icy feet
So aimless she wandered down the street
Looking through a great window span
She saw Lord Jesus, the Son of Man
Lying in a crib, so snug and sweet -
With gifts and offerings at His feet.
As she looked--His image grew
And He stood beside her before she knew.
He picked her up with His big strong arm
Pressed her to His bosom so soft and warm;
So the good Lord Jesus, and Ann, just seven
Celebrated with Daddy and Mommie, Christmas in Heaven.
~ Theresa B. Weiss ~

The Legend of the Cat

At midnight's stroke,
On the first Christmas, half the world awoke.
Then out of nest and lair
Came thronging to Bethlehem the wordless folk;
Hurried the beasts of the forest, the birds of the air,
To pay the Lord their homage and His due.

And Cat came, too,
Mincing on delicate feet to see the Child.
But being shy and wild,
Approached no nearer than the hearth; lay dumb
And distant there.
While the rest knelt in praise,
The Cat by too much glory overcome
Could not withdraw her gaze
From the Nativity; could only stare
Through slitted eyes as things of fur and feather
(The deer beside the lion, the pheasant, the hare
Safe in the fox's paws) bent down together.
Although their anthems lifted all around,
She, in her throat, made only a trembling sound
And could not bow her head.

Yet as the morning dawned
And one by one the other creatures fled
Each to his habitat -
The eagle to his crag and to his pond
The otter - only Cat
Remained beside the dying fire, unable
To quit the place that was both Crib and Stable.

Then Mary spoke aloud.
"Dear Cat," she said, "dear, stiff-necked, proud
And obstinate beast, I bless you. From this hour
Leave wilderness behind you.
Because you stayed, though none shall have the power
To call you servant, yet the hearth shall bind you
Forever to itself. Both fond and free,
Wherever Man is, you shall also be.
And many a family
Will smile to hear you singing (where you settle)
Household hosannahs like a pulsing kettle."

Some winter night
Observe Cat now. Her eyes will suddenly gleam
Yellow against the light,
Her body shudder in a jungle dream,
Her claws unsheath their sharpness. She remembers
Old times, old barbarous customs, old Decembers
Before she called the tribes of Man her friends.
But the dream ends.
Then, reassured, she curls herself along
The floor and hums her cool, domestic song.
~ Author Unknown ~

No Greater Light

There was no family doctor,
There was no midwife there -
Just a loving husband,
A donkey, and a mare.

There was no bed with linens,
And no comfort for this wife;
No help at all was given
For the bringing forth of life.

But, in the quiet hours
As her time was growing nigh,
She met the pain of labor
With faith in God on high.

And soon fulfilled the promise
That a Savior would be born
Within a lowly stable
Before the break of morn.

The Savior breathed the breath
Of life, and it all began,
For here was born the Prince of Peace -
At last, the Son of Man.

There was no special clothing,
Nor cradle for the King;
Swaddling clothes to wrap Him in
Was all that they could bring.

Yet, here within the stable
As the animals watched on,
The light of God shone all around
And warmed them until dawn.

The legionnaires of Caesar
That occupied the inn
Had no idea how very near
The miracle they'd been.

That night there were a very few
Who really understood -
Just those who prayed for answers,
Whose hearts were kind and good.

They knew He would be coming
To bring light to the earth,
And long had watched to see the star

And high above the stable
It shone as if to say
The world would long remember
This morn as Christmas day.

And even though there were so few
To celebrate that night,
There's been no sweeter miracle
There's been no greater light!
~ Susan Dean ~

The Spirit of Christmas

I am thinking of you today because it is Christmas, and I
wish you happiness.
And tomorrow, because it will be the day after Christmas,
I shall still wish you happiness.
I may not be able to tell you about it every day, because I
may be far away or we may be very busy.
But that makes no difference - my thoughts and my wishes
will be with you just the same.
Whatever joy or success comes to you will make me glad
clear through the year.
I wish you the spirit of Christmas.
~ Henry Van Dyke ~

The Story of the Christmas Guest

It happened one day at the year's white end,
Two neighbors called on an old-time friend
And they found his shop so meager and mean,
Made gay with a thousand boughs of green,
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
And said, "Old friends, at dawn today,
When the cock was crowing the night away,
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
And said, 'I am coming your guest to be.'
So I've been busy with feet astir,
Strewing my shop with branches of fir,
The table is spread and the kettle is shined
And over the rafters the holly is twined,
And now I will wait for my Lord to appear
And listen closely so I will hear
His step as He nears my humble place,
And I open the door and look in His face..."
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone,
For this was the happiest day he had known,
For, long since, his family had passed away
And Conrad has spent a sad Christmas Day.
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest
This Christmas would be the dearest and best,
And he listened with only joy in his heart.
And with every sound he would rise with a start
And look for the Lord to be standing there
In answer to his earnest prayer
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound,
But all that he saw on the snow-covered ground
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn.
So Conrad was touched and went to the door
And he said, "Your feet must be frozen and sore,
And I have some shoes in my shop for you
And a coat that will keep you warmer, too."
So with grateful heart the man went away,
But as Conrad noticed the time of day
He wondered what made the dear Lord so late
And how much longer he'd have to wait,
When he heard a knock and ran to the door,
But it was only a stranger once more,
A bent, old crone with a shawl of black,
A bundle of faggots piled on her back.
She asked for only a place to rest,
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest.
But her voice seemed to plead, "Don't send me away
Let me rest awhile on Christmas day."
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
And told her to sit at the table and sup.
But after she left he was filled with dismay
For he saw that the hours were passing away
And the Lord had not come as He said He would,
And Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood.
When out of the stillness he heard a cry,
"Please help me and tell me where am I."
So again he opened his friendly door
And stood disappointed as twice before,
It was only a child who had wandered away
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day...
Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad,
But he knew he should make this little child glad,
So he called her in and wiped her tears
And quieted her childish fears.
Then he led her back to her home once more
But as he entered his own darkened door,
He knew that the Lord was not coming today
For the hours of Christmas had passed away.
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray
And he said, "Dear Lord, why did you delay,
What kept You from coming to call on me,
For I wanted so much Your face to see..."
When soft in the silence a voice he heard,
"Lift up your head for I kept My word -
Three times My shadow crossed your floor -
Three times I came to your lonely door -
For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet,
I was the woman you gave to eat,
And I was the child on the homeless street."
~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Little Donkey

Little donkey, little donkey
On a dusty road
Got to keep on plodding onwards
With the precious load.
Been a long time little donkey
Thro' the winter's night.
Don't give up now little donkey
Bethlehem's in sight.
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem.
Follow the star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem.

Little donkey, little donkey
Had a heavy day
Little donkey carry Mary
Safely on her way.

Little donkey, little donkey
Journey's end is near
There are wisemen waiting for a
Sign to bring them here.
Do not falter, little donkey
There's a star ahead
It will guide you, little donkey
To a cattle shed.
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem.
Follow that star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem.

Little donkey, little donkey
Had a heavy day
Little donkey carry Mary
Safely on her way.
Little donkey carry Mary
Safely on her way.
~ Author Unknown ~

Christmas Season

The Christmas season now is here;
Its fragrance fills the air.
Bells are ringing, carollers singing;
Love is everywhere.
For Christmas is a loving time
As shown by God's love
In sending us His only Son,
A gift from Heaven above.

The Christmas season now is here;
Its presence fills the heart.
Joy and laughter - happiness -
Are felt both near and far.
For Christmas is a happy time,
Expressed in giving-style,
So wrap and tie each Christmas gift
With a loving, cheerful smile.
~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz ~

Perfect Gift

I do not ask for lavish gifts
Nor satin gowns to wear.
I have no need for jeweled combs
Or flowers in my hair.
I only ask on Christmas Day
To find when I arise,
That I may see the world again
With a child's unclouded eyes.
~ Phyllis M. Flaig ~