Christmas Is

When I was just a little girl My mama said to me, "Christmas is more than Santa Claus And presents on the tree. Christmas is a gift to us From our Father up above. He sent his Son to bring us peace And teach the world to love. We haven't treated His gift well Nor loved the way we should. This is the time to honor Him By being very good. Don't cry and ask for everything You see upon the shelves. It's the time to think of others and A little less of selves". She said we'd buy a pretty gift For a child we'd never see And put it with the others that Were on the "Giving Tree". I asked if we might buy the doll That I'd been asking for To give to the unknown child Who was so sad and poor. My mother smiled at me and said, "My Dear, I think you've learned The true meaning of Chirstmas is To give that for which you've yearned". When I found my old doll, Nelly With new clothes on Christmas day, I was glad some child was happy With her new doll, far away. I could see her with her dolly In her home I knew not where As I rocked my darling Nelly In my brand new rocking chair. Christmas In July contest ladies only eleventh place