While cooking dinner the other day,
Laurie came to me in a thoughtful way.
And asked if Santa soon would be here.
Not turning my head I answered , “Yes dear.”
She noticed I didn’t pay too much attention,
So she held her head down and happened to mention
The Sunday School paper she held in her hand.
She was all mixed up and didn’t understand
That Christmas was a day to celebrate,
But was it Jesus’ or Santa’s birthday date?
I turned the fires low on my cook stove,
And sat down and tried to explain the love
Of Jesus and Santa, which is hard to compare,
As my heart turned to God to help me prepare,
Just the right words of the real Christmas story,
Of the birth night of Jesus and all its glory.
She was eager to listen, her face very intent,
I hoped I was making it plain why God had sent
This little baby on this Christmas Day,
And how we should honor him in the right way.
She accepted the story, then said with a pause,
“Now Mother tell me ‘bout Santa Claus.”
This time I felt at lost to find words to tell
Of the jolly ole fellow she loved so well.
To tell her right then he was something untrue,
To me that would have been a cruel thing to do.
So I told her that Santa was a spirit of giving,
And like Jesus, he too wants to share with the living.
That Christmas is Jesus’ birthday date.
And He should be put first, when we celebrate,
Because there’s no other gift given, through greater love
Then God’s precious Son sent from above. 

© 2001 Maida Hudgins All Rights Reserved