Christmas Poems

Dec 22, 2011

Christmas Poems & Stories

So here we have another year And once again we come with cheer All wrapped up with wishes bright For peace and love and all that's right.

Sometimes the trials of life Seem to dim the Christmas light And grief may fall upon us so, We scarce can feel His joy below.

Jesus in the heart of man, Come shine forth across this land And bring that peace that will abide Long after Yule and seasons Tide.

So here we have another year, Perhaps it's not all hale and cheer Yet here's our love, with wishes bright For peace within and all that's right.

Finding the magic of Christmas by Vennessa Lemke

The innocence and the naiveté of children often amaze me, especially around the holiday season. As children get older, we parents search for ways to keep the magic of Christmas alive. When the kids are very young it is much easier to do. They see this time of year as a chance to have all their toy wishes granted by the great Santa Claus. They get to eat sweets in abundance that they otherwise only get in rations, and somehow they get to make some more noise and mom and dad don't get so upset. To them it is wonderful.

Then all of a sudden, and you know what I mean by "all of a sudden", they are not toddlers anymore. They seem to have a mind of their own and start asking questions. They want to know more about “things”. Now you have work to do!

In our house, we have tried to put the emphasis on giving of yourself to others. Doing community work and giving to those in need. We also enjoy the Christmas preparation, the baking, and the decorating. As my children have grown up they have seen the amount of work that goes into making the holidays something magical and something that requires time and attention. As a family we decorate the outside of the house and put up our Christmas trees indoors. Yes, I said “trees”.

This is where we found the “magic”. As our kids got older they acquired many homemade Christmas decorations - you know the ones they make at playgroups, craft time, and school. Each one carefully made with great pride, all needing to be the one that goes on the front of the tree for all to see. Well, how do they all go in that one special spot? We decided to give the kids their very own special tree to display their precious ornaments. Being only five and seven years old, they were thrilled. Problem solved...I thought.

My children quickly jumped on the idea that Christmas trees were a definite part of the holidays. The lights and sparkle were really pretty and each ornament was something to treasure. Two years ago, as our kids were at the prime age for friends to question if they believed in Santa Claus, Santa himself decided to take matters into his own hands. He saw what my children needed to believe in him. On Christmas Eve he got to work ever so quietly, so quietly that my husband and I did not hear him, and placed a beautifully decorated tree in each of my kids’ bedrooms. They were lit with lights and sparkling like nothing else I had ever seen. When our children awoke Christmas morning and saw their trees shining at the foot of their beds they began to cry. Our son said, "I don't need any more gifts. Santa has given me the best gift ever!"

Now I can say that if there was ever any doubt, that has been erased! These Christmas trees will be with our children as long as they want them. They can have a piece of home with them on the holidays as they go off to college, and as they get their first homes. I believe they will continue with the same traditions as we have.

Now we have five trees to prepare each year. That takes help from the whole family! Each family has their own ways of celebrating the holidays. It might be different from the neighbour but it is no less important. As parents, it is our job to seek out the opportunities to make it special and memorable for our children. Sometimes it may be easier to give up on the idea, but then you lose the magic for your kids and for yourself. After all, is that not part of the experience?

The Gift that Keeps on Giving by Linda Coaty

So many years ago God gave us a gift, His Son And during Jesus’ time here He gave us gifts and blessings. Even after Jesus’ return And still to this day He is giving us gifts Of healing and miracles As well as talents and blessings. Every description, both large and small, All through hands He has blessed To people who have faith. Jesus our gift, was given But not always accepted by all. Now and until Jesus’ return He is still giving gifts to all He is still the gift And he keeps on giving.The Treasures of the Cedar Chest by Hope Attaway

Our father was the manager of a trailer park in Pefferlaw, Ontario. Unwanted items of the tenants were discarded over a hill. The snow covered everything. One day my brother Jay and I had just returned from tobogganing.

“Hope, look – I see something interesting jutting out of the snow,” said Jay as he dusted some snow away.

“Just looks like junk,” I replied.

“No, it looks like a chest or something. See the lid. I bet there are some tools inside the chest.”

“It’s just old wood,” I said, frowning.

The chest was frozen into the ice and snow.

“Help me get the chest out of here,” Jay said as he tried to dig more snow away with his mittened hand.

“Oh, it looks too heavy. See if Dad can help you,” I exclaimed as I tried to tug at the handle.

“Good idea.”

Dad and Jay carried the chest to our apartment. When they lifted the lid, they found a couple of old tools. However, Dad noticed the chest was cedar-lined.

“I think this is an antique. It’s going to take a lot of restoring. Brad and Judy have a yard sale several times a year. Let’s see if they are interested in buying the chest,” said Dad.

My brother agreed and we talked to Brad and Judy.

“Yes, it is an antique. We would like to restore it,” said Brad as he looked the chest over.

“Smells nice, inside, when you open the lid,” said Judy, and smiled.

A price was agreed upon. Jay was very pleased. He decided he wanted to buy a watch for Christmas.

“Jay, why don’t you wait till we’re in Toronto? We are visiting Grandma soon. There will be lots of choice and perhaps even a bargain for Christmas,” said Mother.

“That sounds good,” said Jay happily.

Brad and Judy showed us the cedar chest. They had done a splendid job of restoring it. It looked good as new. They already had a buyer.

Mom and I were chatting with Grandma while Jay and my father went downtown to purchase a watch. We were talking about the wonderful blessings we had shared as a family and how thankful we were for Jesus’ provision in our lives all year long.

“Grandma, look at my watch. I have my Christmas present,” said Jay proudly.

“It’s a Casio,” said Grandma and smiled.

“Grandma, here is a Christmas present for you. When I bought the watch, I also got a free portrait. You can go downtown to this photographer and he will take your picture for free,” explained Jay.

“Oh, thank you, Jay. That sounds like fun. It is like a gift certificate.” The cedar chest was beginning to unfold into a chain of events.

My father was going to Jamaica to help set up a workshop for the physically challenged. We all were accompanying him there.

Jay, while we were in Jamaica, decided to sell his watch. My father and Jay went to a jewelry store in Kingston, Jamaica. Jay was quite surprised by the amount he received for the watch. He decided to buy a hurricane lamp. The rest of the money he kept until he could decide what else he needed.

The hurricane lamp proved to be useful as Jamaica had many electrical shut offs, especially at night. We all benefitted from the lamp.

We returned to Canada and decided to visit Grandma. She was pleased to see us.

“I have a Christmas present for you,” said Grandma.

Grandma handed us a golf-framed photograph of herself. We all agreed Grandma looked like a queen. The photographer was a professional.

It was after our visit to Grandma that we decided to winter in Florida. We were going to assist a church in Clearwater, Florida. Jay and I did babysitting for the church and for various couples. We had enough money saved. With the money Jay had from the watch he sold in Jamaica, and from the babysitting, we were able to purchase brand new rods and reels for fishing. Fishing was good in Clearwater. We had the rods and reels for many years.

Every time I look at Grandma’s portrait on the dresser, I think of the treasures of the cedar chest and wonderful Christmas memories.