‘Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
I wandered alone, my joy somewhat doused.
See, the stockings were hung and the tinsel was scattered
But I sat there wondering if all of this mattered.
There must be more, I thought to myself,
Then ribbons and bows and elf on a shelf.
I thought of my loved ones, both near and afar
And silently wished on a bright evening star
That something more than stuff under a tree
Would give some meaning to both them and me.
When what to my wondering eyes did I spy
But a tiny figurine of an angle on high,
Looking down on a manger with a babe small and sweet,
Surrounded by his parents and wise men at a keep.
And I thought about that fateful day
When that babe came to take all my sins away.
Though my trials have been many, and my journey has been hard
There was a joy in his eyes I couldn’t discard.
I thought of the sacrifices he made in his life
So I could walk in freedom and receive a new life.
I could leave the burdens and the brokenness behind
For he calls me worthy and allows me to shine.
And in the moment I realized with a start
That perhaps there was more than just presents to impart.
Things like wisdom, joy and peace, to name a few,
And a life that with a purpose he came to renew.
Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of Christmas
I reflected it was much too easy to miss this—
That Jesus came to set me free
To give me meaning and allow me to be
A part of a story, so rich and profound,
It was able to turn this whole world around.
I spoke not a word as I reached for my bible
And read it once more, knowing it's vital
To moving forward with greater peace,
Grateful to my King who came from the East.
My heart became lighter and my load melted away
Under the light of his love, bright like the new day.
I finally went to bed much lighter than when I started
Knowing that Jesus came to save the broken-hearted.
If this Christmas story has spoken to you,
Remember each line is entirely true.
Jesus came for both you and me
To give us hope and set us free.
So no matter how hard your journey has been
Remember transformation starts from within,
Trusting in something greater than yourself
Something bigger than a jolly old elf.
It’s Jesus, no more and no less,
That truly brings meaning beyond what words can express.
Merry Christmas!
To learn more about author & motivational speaker Barb Lownsbury or to invite her to speak at your next event, CLICK HERE.
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