Link: Michael W. Smith - "The Promise"
Written by Martha Knight
December 19th, 2007
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all was arranged
As it had been last night--nothing was changed.
No stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
Kids were told, there's no Santa. It's all worldly. Beware!"
The children were all bedded down in their bunks,
With thoughts of their worldly friends, and their Christmas junk.
"It's just foolish and vain, writing Santa a letter,
And we never do that, because we know better!"
Those words came from Mother, and also from preachers,
Who said that most people were lost, sinful creatures.
How foolish of them to put up Christmas trees!
And to think, they imagine that thus God is pleased!
All at once little Janet heard bells in the distance.
And soon Jimmy woke too, at Janet's insistence.
They looked out the window, where brilliant moon glow
Revealed Santa's sleigh, through the flurries of snow.
Why, there Santa was, just as real as could be!
And there were eight reindeer, the children could see.
And yes, there were presents, and wonderful toys--
Could those be for only unsaved girls and boys?
The sleigh skipped their house, headed straight to the next,
Leaving Janet and Jimmy bewildered and vexed.
But as he got out and picked up his big sack
Santa stopped, seemed to hesitate, then he looked back
Right at Janet and Jimmy, and gave such a sigh,
And they thought they detected a tear in his eye.
"I'm sorry that I can't be part of this season
For you, while you're little--and there's no good reason.
But some grownups think having Christmas is bad.
They don't understand, you don't have to act sad
To be good Christian people, or to honor the Lord.
It's too bad that you can't be allowed--" but the words
That came next sounded broken or muffled or choked,
As he climbed on the chimney, and cautiously poked
At the flue to make sure it was cold, and then down,
Down he went, making scarcely a sound.
Little Janet and Jim thought about how next door
There'd be laughter, excitement, and presents galore
When their neighbors got up, Christmas morn at first light.
They'd shout, "Mom and Dad! Santa did come last night!"
Back to bed, very quietly, two children crept.
And maybe, quite close by, some angels wept.
Here is a "small" book that will touch your heart in a "big" way:
"The Christmas Box" by Richard Paul Evans, aka Jon Boy from "The Walton's"
Editorial Reviews:
Richard Paul Evans originally wrote The Christmas Box as an expression of love for his two daughters, never intending for it to be published. Many Christmas seasons (and a rich publishing contract) later, this touching tale relates the meaning of Christmas in a profound but simple way. Rick, Keri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jenna, are hired as caretakers and are welcomed into the home of Mary, an ailing widow, just in time for the holidays. Before long, it becomes apparent that Mary cherishes their companionship, and this young family begins to understand that their relationship to Mary is more special than any one of them could have realized. These tender relationships, fraught with real-life struggles, are the backdrop for unraveling a mysterious secret that gently propels the reader through this short story. Unlike most generic Christmas stories, Evans manages to bypass triviality, imbedding these pages with humble truth and emotion. This tiny treasure will cause you to rejoice in the blessings of the season while stirring up a childlike vigor as old profundity is revealed anew. In a season often shrouded in selfishness and materialism, Evans reminds the reader that the only way that we can genuinely love one another is by accepting the greatest gift of love ever given--that of a Father who "so loved His children that He sent His son, that we might someday return to Him." --Jill Heatherly
From Publishers Weekly
Self-published in paperback during the Christmas season 1994, Evans's first novel quickly gained national media attention. Now the cleverly told tale, which the author reputedly wrote for his daughters and which revels in sentimentality, is available in hardcover. The story relates how a young couple, Richard (who narrates) and Keri, accept a position to care for a lonely widow, Mary Parkin, in her spacious Victorian mansion. As Christmas draws near, Mary becomes anxious about Richard's obsession with success and his failure to make time for his family. She urges him to reconsider his priorities, but he is always too busy to heed her advice. It is only when Mary is on her deathbed and her secret sorrow is revealed through the letter-laden Christmas box of the title that Richard realizes what she has been trying to tell him. The message concerns love, of course, and the strings Evans pulls to vivify it should squeeze sobs from even the stoniest of hearts. It's notable, however, that unlike many well-known Christmas tales (such as Dickens's), which carry that message in a basically nonsectarian manner, this is steeped in specific Christian imagery and belief as the author draws on the drama of Jesus as God's sacrifice for the world's sins, and of his crucifixion and resurrection.
