The Gift
The Gift
Some people say Christmas in this present day
Wanders lost
In ads and tinsel carelessly strung
Upon an artificial bough;
Some people say the Christmas spirit
Lives no more -
The simple Christ Child’s birth
Coldly mocked by glittering ads
For diamond rings and robot toys;
Some say our plastic money cards
Bring shame to one, who, born so poor,
Wore no fancy clothes
Or even slept in a cradle of his own
While a Christian world forgets
The simple song of angel praise
In hustle crowds who only hum
Atonal harmony of green cash tunes;
Some people say that Christ remains absent
From our Christmas celebrations
So lost we get in buying –
So drunk we get with wine;
Yet, I see his star rise up again
In children’s faith, eyes aglow in wonder
Reflecting back into the darkest night
The miracle of the Christmas story;
I watch a callous world
Retell the story
Then remember little acts of kindness
From a neighbor, or a friend,
In homemade thank you cards
Of cookies, cakes or ornaments;
The holiday air overflows with scents of sugarplums -
Pungent cloves, nutmeg sweet
And aromatic cinnamon -
A gift of time given to baking memories
In sweet spice for children
As music fills the world again,
Carols dancing in our hearts,
“Joy to the world!” we hear them say,
“Joy to the world! The Lord has come!”
Each year I watch the world turn out
To stretch a loving hand of help
To strangers shivering in the cold
And to those living alone -
To ones with rags for clothes
And families who face each day
Empty cupboard shelves –
Whose children would be strangers
To the joy of Christmas morn
If not for hearts and hands
Of women and of men
Who bring the Magi’s gifts to poverty again;
I see this cynical world
So closely guard the spirit of this time
A world of Santa Claus’ asks no gratitude
For countless days of aching feet
And traffic jams –
Their love returns a hundredfold
In smiles and gasps of childlike glee
To nestle beneath boughs of green
When morning light opens up the givers joy
Spreading across a silent world
A message sprung from hope,
Born with a baby boy.
12/9/19
Copyright © Sam Kauffman | Year Posted 2019
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