Some Reflections on Christmas

Christmas at Our House

When Christmas comes at our house,
for several days before
there’s Santa and a holly wreath,
hung right upon our door.

There’re candles in the window,
and Yule logs in a stack.
There’s many Christmas stories,
in a neat and even rack.

The kitten’s by the fireplace,
the embers burning bright,
his eyes are on the chimney,
for Santa comes tonight.

The stockings hang there, side by side,
they’re red, yellow, blue.
You know three kids are living here,
instead of one or two.

The frigidaire is loaded,
the table creaks and groans.
Sweet odors from the kitchen.
It's Christmas here at home.

A spicy sweet aroma,
its floating through the rooms.
We're peeking out the window,
the guests will be here soon.

Elva Mize Rice
December 20, 1960


The Real Christmas

Long years ago, so we are told,
in Bethlehem, a town,
Our God of love from up above,
sent baby Jesus down.

He came to save us from our sins
he bled upon the tree.
When I see Christmas come each year,
that’s what it means to me.

They put him in a tomb one day,
a sort of earthy prison.
But when the third day rolled around
they found that he had risen.

“Go tell my own and Peter too,
lo, come to Galilee.
I'll meet them there as I have said
when they were there with me.”

He’s gone above, our God of love.
I'll come again, said He
to take my own to Heaven above,
to live eternally.

The years roll by, He lives on high.
His promise is still true.
He's coming soon, I don't know when.
I'm ready though. Are you?

As Christmas comes again this year
in honor of his birth,
let's keep our Christ in Christmas
upon this whole wide earth.

Elva Mize Rice December 14, 1958