The Week Before Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas
And deep in my soul
My fears were all stirring
And out of control.

The family was coming
To our house this year
And I wondered if I
Would survive with good cheer.

The stockings were hung
By the chimney in haste
The lights were all strung
Not a bulb went to waste.

Out on the streets
With the force of a gale
The crowds rushed in search
Of one last Christmas sale.

Christmas shopping took on
A life all its own
It distressed me to see
How my list had now grown.

With great presence of mind
I took off for the Mall
And later returned
With no presents at all.

From every street corner
Came one more Christmas song
But deep down inside
I felt something was wrong.

As I staggered toward Christmas
With an unsteady lurch
I thought that perhaps
I’d find comfort at church.

But while children in bathrobes
Converged on the manger
I watched from my seat
In the pew like a stranger.

I went home and sought solace
In the comfort of bed
But no visions of sugar plums
Danced in my head.

I tried counting shepherds,
And angels, and sheep
But though I was weary
I still couldn’t sleep.

There were lights in the windows
And lights on the tree
There were lights all around
Except inside of me.

Like Scrooge I lay sleepless
At night in my bed
My mind full of questions
My heart full of dread.

But no spirit of Christmas
Greeted my stare
And the silence hung heavy
In the dark winter air.

And while I lay thinking
I remembered a verse
That spoke of a blessing
That cancels the curse.

Though I live in darkness
Overwhelmed by its might
The power of darkness
Is broken by Light.

Only those who know darkness
And failure, and sin
Can treasure the gift
When Light enters in.

With fresh Christmas hope
I lay back on my bed
Engulfed by the sleep
That from me had fled.

And I thought I could hear
As the sleep dimmed my sight
“Merry Christmas to all
Who will come to the Light!”

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
-Isaiah 9:2

©2011 mikewordsmith.com