Merry Christmas

Remembering the Nativity

The Christmas bells ring, ring, ring,

softly carried on the air.

Even deep within the mountains,

to a lone and humble cottage,

the Christmas bells are heard.

The Christmas bells ring gently,

their sound warm and kind.

Down by the edge of the sea,

to the fishermen at work,

the Christmas bells are heard.

A song we sang as children

in Sunday school long ago—

a tune that still remains with me.

Would it reach those cottages, those fishermen?

May it reach them too, and softly sound.

Bells announcing the birth

of the infant Jesus—

to the poor, the weary-hearted,

may they travel every hidden corner,

ringing gently, carrying hope.

Clumsy Christmas cards we made by hand,

carefully shaping every letter:

Merry Christmas.

Cards written and crafted through the night.

Wrapping stockings, wrapping gloves,

small gifts filled with sweets,

hands reaching out to family and friends—

I remember how warm our hearts once were.

Waiting for snow to fall,

waiting for a Santa who never came,

lighting a long candle at night,

lying face down, feeling close and safe.

Merry Christmas—

a greeting written on cards and hearts alike.

Dreaming of a white Christmas,

waking bright on the morning of the twenty-fifth,

stepping outside to see

whether snow had come or was still falling—

loving the cold air on my face.

Merry Christmas!

*these are my own paintings*