After-Christmas Thursday Thoughts

The packages are gone beneath the tree

Their paper torn, the o-o-o-h’s and a-a-a-h’s depart

But hope, love, joy; these precious gifts are free

If we carry True Christmas in the heart

***

Tuck to the heart those tender things

Of Christmas joy and peace

But sad regret and broken strings

Lift Up and then release

***

Calendar Christmas is just one day

But True Christmas never fades away

***

We cannot keep moments, they slip

And drip like snow from trees

But in the cradle of the heart

We keep their memories

Therefore we ought to tend with care

Each tick that time imparts

So we may ever gladly bear

Its treasure in our hearts

***

Silent night, holy night

Half-moon lounging on blue deep

All across earth’s black and white

Many tired children sleep

***

Sing a song of gladness,

Sing a song of joy

Christmas-best is worship

Of wee girl and boy

(Inspired by the wee, little girl who sang her heart out on the pew behind me at the Christmas Eve service; so, so precious)

***

I love the lights, the songs, the laughter

Of the Christmas celebration

But now it is the first ‘day after’

How I miss Anticipation

***

Darling, another year is spent

It’s wisp of waning thread

Is dangling on time’s needle, bent

With next year’s hope and dread

But one thing is not more or less

Or past or future, God’s goodness! Hallelujah!

***

Trial and Error, grievous twain

Of wisdom’s testing, vexing pain

They’ve taught us through another year

We lift a cup of cheer, hear, hear,

… ‘until we meet again’

© Janet Martin