Have you gone into the malls lately, to do your "Christmas" shopping? You can’t help notice the lights, and the razzle-dazzle, and the Santa Clauses, and the attractive decorations. You can’t help hearing Season-related music blaring from speakers all over the place. Everywhere you look there are things to entice you to buy, buy, buy. On television the adds are announcing wonderful things which your children, or your parents, or your spouse, or your lover would like, to give them the perfect Christmas. But the CENTRAL PERSON of Christmas is absent: CHRIST. In fact, it seems that these days it is "politically incorrect" to associate CHRIST’S name with CHRISTMAS. Ironical, isn’t it? Yes! It just seems that CHRIST is crowded completely out. There is just no room for the CHRISTof CHRISTMAS.
Oh, where is the Christ Child of Christmas?
Now, what have we done unto Him?
God sent down His dear Son from heaven:
a Gift, to save us from sin.
But on that historic, first Christmas
they could not find room in the Inn.
Christ was born in a barn, with the cattle--
on some hay, in a musty feed-bin.
They call this the blest Christmas season.
Excitement explodes through the air.
The streets are so crowded with people
who dash in and out, here and there.
They’re driven into a wild frenzy.
They’re caught in the mad buyer’s snare.
But where is the Christ Child of Christmas?
Have you seen Him around anywhere?
The streets are ablaze with bright lighting.
The malls are all bursting with toys.
We see Santa Clause with all of his reindeer
enticing small girls, and wee boys.
There’s holly, and tinsel, and trinkets.
There’s music, and laughter, and noise.
There is food, and there’s fun, and there’s frolic.
But it’s hard to find any real JOY.
Oh, where is the Christ Child of Christmas?
Pray, what have we done unto Him?
Is He pushed away off in a corner?
Or lost midst the wrappings and trim?
He stands at the door, and He’s knocking.
Will we be inviting Him in?
Or will CHRIST be removed from our 'X'-MAS
just because we’ve no room in our inn?
Let’s think on this over this Christmas.
Let’s leave room in our hearts and in our lives for the Christ of Christmas.
© Helen Dowd
