Christmas Means

Rebecca York

episode 22

A little child climbed up on my knee

With eyes that only see, what a child sees.

As she smiled and stared at the lights on the tree

“What does Christmas mean?”… she asked of me.

Now, I’ve lived a while on this Earth’s plane

And known many a Christmas — again and again.

But when I was young, it was easy to say,

What Christmas meant on Christmas day.

There were presents a-plenty and candy canes.

There were cookies and milk and choo-choo trains.

Mama and Papa kissed ‘neath mistletoe

These were the Christmases… I’d say I did know.

Stocking and ribbons and feasts of ham,

Chocolates and cocoa (I’d pass on the yams),

Snowmen and mittens and Perry Como songs.

Everything was right — never any wrongs.

Although, as the decades passed by, dressed in tinsel and stars,

Real life snuck in and… it left some scars.

With eyes that only see, what a grown-up sees,

Tears often blur the lights on the Christmas tree.

There are those who are missing — see the empty seat?

There are those too busy, to sit down to eat.

There are lonely and homeless and hungry this night

Too many wrongs — it’s hard to feel right.

I held the child in kind embrace

And saw the wonder shine from her face.

Why snuff the light of innocence, gleaming?

So I told her my idea of Christmas’s’ meaning.

“Christmas is warmth and loving and giving…

To be thankful for blessings in this life we are living,

But Christmas joy is just a start… We can share it all year — with hand and heart.”

“Throughout your days, be generous, caring, kind

And always keep the spirit of Christmas in mind.”

“Now hurry off — get your coat and mittens, ‘cos

we have food to deliver to the shelter kittens.

Then to visit our neighbor, and lonely Aunt Sue…

Hey, you know what?

Christmas is doing these things with you…

and you… and you… and you…