As we go about our busy preparations for Christmas, I trust we will all stop at one point to reflect on why we celebrate Christmas. Yes, it's about a baby being born, but not just any baby, it was God incarnate. Come to live among us and within us. In honor of this season, I wrote a song a few years ago, called Mary's Christmas. My son-in-law Curtis Willey added some touches, put it to music, and sang the song. I'm honored to play our song at this time of year. I tried to link the music to this post, but that process is beyond me. Here are the lyrics:
Mary’s Christmas
Mary put the kids to bed
With dreams of Christmas in their head
She kissed their cheeks and smoothed their hair
Turned off the light and crept downstairs
The bike was assembled and the parts were all there
The dolls and teacups set out with care
The kids would be happy tomorrow for sure
With Santa’s gifts strewn all over the floor.
Mary’s Christmas would not be bright
Since her Jim had gone away to fight
Mary’s Christmas would have to be
The tree, the kids and her memory
She looked at the tree she had carefully trimmed
With decorations sent home by Jim
There were handmade angels and cherubs and more
From the different places he had served in the war
Now all that was missing besides Jim, she thought
Was the star that should sit away up on top
But she couldn’t reach it so it would just go bare
Without him home to put it there.
Mary’s Christmas would not be bright
Since her Jim had gone away to fight
Mary’s Christmas would have to be
The tree, the kids and her memory.
Well as always she knelt down to pray
She had a few soft words to say
About a newborn babe and men from afar
Who sent joy to the world neath his guiding star
Then she prayed for Jim that he’d be kept safe
So far away in the faraway place
And she prayed for her kids that they would be
As pure and strong as God meant them to be
Then she got up and tried the locks
And pulled the blinds and wound the clock
But she said to herself I won’t darken that tree
Until my Jim comes home to me.
So a sound at the door made her jump with fright
“What could that be in the middle of this night?”
Then the door opened wide and tears streaked her face
As Jim swept her up in one long embrace
He laid out the toys for the kids that he brought
And for Mary a bundle of gifts he had bought
Then he noticed the star and went to the tree
And carefully placed it where it needed to be
Mary’s Christmas sure turned bright
Snuggling with Jim neath the twinkling colored lights
Mary’s Christmas was the best she ever had
She had her Jim-- and the kids had their dad.
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Merry Christmas y'all!
Quote of the Day: God bless us everyone! Charles Dickens
