Another Christmas Same Old Craze

Another Christmas season is on us

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus;

The Saviour who is Christ the Lord

As prophesied by Isaiah in God’s Holy Word.

For unto us a child is born,

The delight of God that first Christmas morn

Was sent to rescue man from his sin;

This Christmas will you have room for him?

The season of cleaning is all around

In and out the house wherever dust is found

But what of our hearts with all its mess

Will we have it cleaned with the same zest? 

Oft misguided, Christmas misunderstood

The emphasis is on cloth, stone and wood,

The curtains to change and the house to paint

The furniture polished and looking quaint.

There’s the shopping spree as usual

Bridgetown crowded with all kinds of people

Spending money on stuff they already have

In the last minute rush seeing what they can grab.

“This year I’m not in that,” someone may say,

“I just don’t have the money with which to pay,”

But that’s only talk during the early stage,

As the day draws near watch the buying rage.

Forgetting the debt that was created last year

Every dollar spent not a cent to spare,

Trying to catch up with the payments from then

But this year planning the more to spend.

Is there no end to this silly craze?

When will we come to the terminus of this phase?

For after Christmas we no longer see the glaze

Since our silly spending leaves us a daze.

Last year’s lights not good enough this year

My neighbours might outdo me; that’s the fear

So I must get the laser lights, the revolving ones too,

To outdo the rest will require more than a few.

  

Food galore but still we must buy more

Supermarkets overcrowded but yet we bore,

Another large ham and a huge turkey

There’s nothing like Christmas for a spending spree.

The bills in December will just have to wait,

The writ server or bailiff could stand at the gate

Though the after Christmas mess I really hate

When that time comes I will attend to my fate.

For the moment such thoughts I can’t entertain,

At Christmas time I don’t need that strain

And though I know it will cause me some pain,

For right now I can’t let my mind be in that frame.

I intend to enjoy this Christmas to the full

I really don’t care how my conscience tug,

The fun and the frolic are a far greater pull

And if I don’t yield my Christmas would be dull.

All you who travel this road year after year

Here is a little counsel to temper your cheer,

One advent has occurred; there’s another to come

It’s time to look deeper than your Christmas fun.

That first Christmas was the first advent

When our Saviour Jesus was from heaven sent,

He is coming again; that’s the Father’s intent

This Christmas would be a good time to repent.

At his coming to this world no room could be found,

Right in a manger he was laid close to the ground

And so from under he could lift both you and me

So that we can be God’s children eternally.

This Christmas can be an eye opener; that is true

As we reflect on what Christ did for me and for you,

The greatest Christmas gift can be yours this year

And particularly so as his return draws near.

This Christmas give him the best that you can give

Open you heart’s door and see what it is to live,

God gave the best that he could for us

When He gave to the world His only Son, Jesus.

It need not be another Christmas; same old craze,

You need not continue in this unsatisfying phase,

Let him from sin your sin sick soul raise

And let him end forever your after Christmas daze.

Thereafter upon your Saviour you will gaze,

You’ll recognize his glory; you’ll see its blaze,

The things of Christmas will not cause you to faze,

With Christmas in right perspective God you will praise.

Stewart Russell © 2016