Night Before Christmas 2010

I wrote this for a Christmas banquet about a week ago and have shared it at two others since then. Since I have been asked to share it online, I thought this would be a good venue. Merry Christmas!

'Twas the night before Christmas and all over town

All of the Baptists were about to bed down

The church family had gathered for the candlelight service

"Watch the wax and the carpet!" (it made the custodian so nervous)

The songs had been sung and the hugs had been shared

The youth pastor was late, but nobody cared

The pastor's short message was so warm and tender

That when the deacons woke up, they proclaimed it a winner

So, now everyone had made it back to the house

And that pastor was all snuggled up with his spouse

When all of a sudden, with eyes open wide

The leaped to the window and gawked right outside

(Now you have to be careful with too much outside gawking

You don't want to get the neighbors to talking)

But they gawked and they gawked 'til they got cricks in their necks

'Cause right there in their front yard, old Santa had wrecked

The reindeer were wondering and starting to graze

And Santa just sat right there in a daze

He looked like his travels had worn him down to a nub

As he looked back at them from out of the shrubs

Mrs Pastor said, "Let's help him, we're all that he's got!"

But the pastor was thinking, "Well, I guess the snuggling's shot"

But he pulled himself together and brought Santa inside

They cleared off the sofa (You know that old fella's kinda wide)

They gave him some coffee and cleaned up his clothes

They gathered the reindeer (even the old red nose)

And after a few minutes of loving care

Santa's spirits revived like a breath of fresh air

He jumped up and said, "Friends, I've gotta fly!

There's many miles to go before this night passes by"

But he looked at that ministry couple with love in his eyes

And said, "I need to tell you something and this is no lie.

Kids the world over are pondering my flight

But in your life, I saw Jesus tonight

You didn't ask for presents, you just showered me with love

And I think we all know that it comes from above

So, before I go, pastor, I can say it's not a reach

To see where your heart is, because you practice what you preach."

May the same be said of all of us who proclaim that Jesus is the reason for the season. Let us not just be about words, but let our words be validated by loving action.