What's YOUR Reason?
By: Maxine M.

There's decorated trees, colored lights, cookies baking and the dreaded fruitcake being passed around
Parents hiding requested toys, children dreaming of hearing a reindeer sound
Teenagers have their "list", shoppers wondering where the best "deals" can be found

There's parties to attend...home and even the city dressed in red and green
Santa Claus and snowmen, everywhere can be seen
Cards addressed and sent, gifts are wrapped, phone calls made in between

The smell of pine, sounds of carols being sung
Happy Holidays!!, Season's Greetings...roll off nearly every tongue
Bells are ringing, mistletoe is in place, stockings on the mantel are hung

Some are waiting for snow with great anticipation
With youthful enthusiasm, wanting their "school break" vacation
"We're going to Grandma's!!" childen declare, as travel plans bring considerable expectation

School programs every night...children all dressed in fine array
The postman is LOADED down with packages sent loved one's way
Merchants entice with a unique window display

Children are in suspense, hoping a glimpse of the "gift giver" they can steal
Parents hoping, "the truth" from the little ones they can conceal
Each family enjoying their own traditional holiday meal

These scenes are repeated over and over all across our entire nation
All this is meant to be part of a Christmas celebration
But often the PURPOSE BEHIND IT ALL is ignored in our elation

Some call it "Winter Festival"!! just to shorten the time til Spring
But, in REALITY, Christmas is actually the BIRTH- DAY of a KING!
OH!!! The hope, enlightenment, inspiration, courage THIS one event would bring

Can you imagine the tremendous LOVE, by the Creator, that night brought?
A triumphant victory over Satan had just been fought
A great object lesson of SACRIFICAL love, in that manger was taught

This HOLY event was once commemorated in manger scenes all across our land
But now, atleast in public, most are strictly banned
Don't be "offensive", is the unbeliever's demand

Void of faith and understanding, they ignore it's importance...simply frown
They don't know or acknowledge that the Lord of GLORY Himself came down
To be born as a helpless baby, in the small Bethleham town

They don't comprehend the MAGNITUDE of the announcement the angels made
That a SAVIOUR had been born!!...the foundation of Eternal Salvation had been laid
Because through THIS baby, mankind's sin debt would be totally paid

So THEY put all that aside and celebrate "the season" every year
They deny THE REASON Christmas should bring us joy and cheer
They give gifts to eachother, but deny God's GIFT, it would appear

But, as for ME and MY house, we will celebrate the LORD's BIRTH!
Awaiting the time He'll once again be coming back to earth
So, Merry Christmas!!!, Celebrate it for what it's TRULY worth!