'TwastheNightBeforeChristmas

　　ByDebraCoe

　　'TwasthenightbeforeChristmasandallthroughthehouse

　　Notacreaturewasstirring,notevenamouse

　　Thestockingswerehungbythechimneywithcare

　　WiththoughtsofSt.Nicholasandwhathe'dbringthere.

　　Thechildrenwerenestledallsnugintheirbeds

　　Withoutamomentofbowingtheirheads.

　　Thescriptureswerethrownontheshelveswithoutcare.

　　Littlehopeofrememberingthepreciouswordsthere.

　　AndIwiththetinselandMawiththelights

　　HadpreparedforChristmaswithnothoughtsofChrist.

　　WehadsnowmenandelvesandofcourseSantaClaus.

　　Wethoughtwehaddecoratedwithoutanyflaws.

　　Forweekswe'dpreparedwithlotsoftraditions,

　　Cardsofcourseandsomuchworkinthekitchen.

　　We'dbeentopartiesgalorealldressedupinfrills

　　Andspenthoursatstorestogetthebestdeals.

　　Thelightsonthehousewereallflashingwithfun

　　Lotsofpresentsunderthetree;wethoughtweweredone.

　　Wethoughtnotoftheneedy,norhelptoastranger,

　　Wethoughtnotofthepoor,andnotofamanger.

　　Noangelsweresinginginourhousethatnight

　　Wehadn'tinvitedthemsononewereinsight.

　　TherealspiritofChristmaswasabsentaswell.

　　ForonlyChrist'sspiritwillmakeourheartsswell.

　　AndIwonderedthatChristmashowitcouldbe

　　ThattheChristmasspiritwasn'tstrongerinme

　　WhyChristmasdidn'tseemasitwasinthepast

　　WhyChristmasjustcameandwentbyveryfast.

　　Whenoutofmywonderingminddidappear.

　　SomescripturesI'dlearnedasachildsodear.

　　OfalovingkindFatherwhogaveHisownSon

　　GodsawallourneedsandchoseChristastheone.

　　Christhasthepowertoserveussowell

　　Healingthethingsthatcanleadtospiritualjail

　　IcouldchangeifIwantedwitheyesthatcouldsee

　　"ComeFollowMe,"wasHisonlyplea.

　　Idecidedtochangeandbeggedforgivenessplease

　　AndaskedhowtoserveHimwhiledownonmyknees

　　ServeothersanddoitasifuntoHim

　　WastheanswerIheardinthesoundofahymn

　　IrushedfrommybedandIgotscripturesforall.

　　SowecouldstartChristmasjustrightafterall.

　　SoChristmasdayweplanedforthemonthsyettocome

　　Ofpeoplewe'dserveandwetalkedofthefun

　　NowAngelsaresinginginourhometoday

　　Wefinallyinvitedthemtocomeourway.

　　AndChristmasislastingthewholelongyearthrough,

　　Withscriptures,prayeranddevotionHisspiritgrew.