Christmas Stories

As we march headlong toward the holidays I wanted to follow up on my movie review of The Nativity Story with a poem about the other Christmas stories which abound at this time of year. Movies and assorted Christmas specials clog the theaters and airways, bombarding us with imaginary themes and a host of animated fictional characters offering various takes on the holiday. Most of us grew up on those characters and they may even hold a special place in our hearts. The catch is that they also cloud the true Christmas story and crowd its message to the side. These characters are the emissaries of a commercialized Christmas which has no resemblance to the original story or meaning. I encourage you, my fellow citizens to sort through the available Christmas stories in search of the truth. If it’s only about snowmen and reindeer and elves and presents, then we’re the merely the victims an organized subliminal conspiracy by retail empires who hope to make us feel merry … and therefore generous. However, a rudimentary etymological consideration of the word Christmas reveals that its root word is Christ. I believe that is the point. It’s not “Elfmas” or “Rudolfmas” or “Giftmas,” but Christmas, and those first six letters make all the difference. My hope and prayer for you this season is that you may rediscover the wonder of THE Christmas story. Then share it with your children and friends and family.

Christmas Stories
There are so many Christmas stories
Oh how we love to hear
The way the children's snowman came to life
We applaud those flying reindeer
And the way they pull the sleigh
We love jolly old Saint Nick and his dear wife
Who could ever overlook
Those darling little elves
And all the magic things that they can do
We watch aghast with horror
As that mean old Mr. Grinch
Tries to steal Christmas morning from the Whos
Adults and children just alike
All gather 'round the tube
To watch what they've seen many times before
The characters of Christmas
Come in every shape and size
So easy to believe in and adore
But there's another Christmas story
That our children need to hear
You've heard it and you probably know it well
The plot is not as colorful
Nor are the characters
Yet, it's the one we really need to tell
Remember how in Sunday school
You learned about the Christ
Who came to cleanse the world of its sin
They told you all you had to do
Was open up your heart
And Jesus would forgive you and come in
On Christmas day we celebrate
The birth of Jesus Christ
Who came to earth to save both me and you
He's the only Christmas story
That you really need to know
And the only Christmas story that is true
By Frank Carpenter ©