As crass commercialism and political correctness collide to create “The Contemporary (Generic) Holiday Season” once again this year, may I–once again–offer a modest proposal not to just defend a traditional “Merry Christmas” greeting but to stop and consider the season?
The Gift
Trees and lights and bells and carols,
Bright-wrapped packages piled high.
Winter’s sharp blow joins the heralds:
“Christmastime is nigh.”Mailmen hurry; shoppers scurry;
Time is fleeing–Oh! so fast.
Parties gather, loud and merry,
Grander than in Christmas’ past.Pause a moment to remember
That a Savior’s simple birth
Still stirs angel wings in susur’–
“Peace to men; goodwill on earth.”Now the Father’s hands that molded
The first Adam in the clay,
Gently ’round a manger folded,
Cradle a Baby in the hay.So, the Greatest Gift extended–
Gift of love and peace to all;
God’s great love to man descended
Calls us to a stable stall.Tiny Babe, Eternal Son;
First step to Calv’ry, vict’ry won.©1990-1991 David W Needham
This was originally written as “an old poem found in the family Bible” for a Christmas musical titled, appropriately enough, “The Gift”.
The Random Yak has a “wonderful news” post that deals with this topic that’s worth your time. Yak, you and TRS have done well.
Amen, and Amen. Beautifully said.
I may keep you around a while longer, nice job.
Thanks, guys. Now get back to that “consider the season” thingy… 😉
Oh, I needed that…
Thanks for the link and props. I must confess, however, that I don’t deserve the praise. With Yak the Younger, as with the rest of my life, I tend to take the view that “the successes belong to God…the screwups are all mine.” That said, since He’s not here to smile politely and act like He’s not preening…I’ll do that part and say thanks for the appreciation.
Yak, while it is only right to give praise where it is due, remember: God chose YOU as your son’s mentor. (Yes, chose. That pesky Calvinist concept rears its head and barks. :-)) And even were you not “chosen” (“from before the foundation of the world” as some bright wit put it in Ephesians 1:4 *heh*), He has laid on you the responsibility and opportunity to tutor your son that “when he is old he will not depart from [the ways of the Lord]”. And so, it seems, you and TRS are doing. So take your praise.. and pass it on to the one who delegated to you the authority (and thus the responsibility) to raise your son “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Again with Ephesians, 6th chapter).