Are you ready for Christmas? Shopping done? Food made? Gifts wrapped? How about the state of your heart? Are you ready to reflect on the birth of our Savior?
Ready For Christmas?
“Ready for Christmas,” she said with a sigh,
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high,
Then wearily sat for a moment and read,
Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
“Ready for Christmas? What do you mean?
Ready for Christmas when only last week
You wouldn’t acknowledge your friend on the street.
“Ready for Christmas, while holding a grudge?
Perhaps you had better let God be the judge,
Why, how can the Christ-child come and abide
In the heart that is selfish and filled with pride?
“Ready for Christmas when only today
A beggar lad came and you turned him away
Without even a smile to show that you cared?
The little he asked – it could have been spared.
“Ready for Christmas? You’ve worked, it is true,
But just doing the things that you wanted to do.
Ready for Christmas? Your circle’s too small –
Why, you are not ready for Christmas at all!”
She awoke with a start and a cry of despair,
“There’s so little time and I’ve still to prepare.
O Father, forgive me, I see what You mean,
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.”
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree,
It’s the heart swept clean that He wants to see;
A heart that is free from bitterness, sin –
Ready for Christmas – and ready for HIM.
A revised version of the poem by: Alice Hansche Mortenson
So are you ready for Christmas?
Jill
Very good question for me to answer. Right now I’d have to say no. No gifts purchased yet, let alone wrapped. Will be getting what we can for people we care about when we get paid on Wed. Nothing like having to push the envelope huh? Something tells me you’re ready and am glad you asked that question. I definitely need to have an attitude adjustment. Won’t go into details why, I need to work on that myself.
Have been cleaning up somewhat, so this joint will maybe be decent anyway. I noticed little while ago hubs had turned on tree lights. It’s funny how that little thing helps me feel better about the day.
Are you ready for Christmas, what really counts and what it’s about? Thanks to you think I’m more ready than I was when I opened your post. Thank you for reminding me. You have a great touch Jill.
I will be sending you little something after Christmas. Have to dig it out of box in shed then get it ready to mail. Can’t get down to shed as it’s been raining and is a muddy mess, arrgghhh. lol
I love your shelf, how you decorated it. The frame with star ornament and lights around frame is quite beautiful in it’s simplicity. You are very good about making vignettes like that. I’ll be looking forward to post after Christmas from you, how your holiday was. How your kids liked it.
Do you and your hubs do anything for New years Eve? Does your church have New Years parties?
Have you gotten any of the flooding in your area? Saw something about it on weather or on here.
Hope not. Do you have cold weather and snow? All it’s done here is rain and more rain here. Has gotten so dark at not even 3p.m. yet, have to turn light on. Sky looks so dreary, come on snow, let it snow. Rather have snow than rain, rain just makes a muddy mess and very muddy furry dog paws and he hates to have his paws cleaned. Try wrestling with 75 lbs. of very strong dog. lol
Weather keeps telling us possible Christmas snow, believe when I see it. Ah well, not meant to be then it isn’t, no biggie.
Have wonderful happy healthy Christmas with your family Jill,
JaneEllen, I hope you have a very wonderful and blessed Christmas!
The important part, yes, I’m ready!! Baking, gifts wrapped…not so much, but it will happen! I hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas and New Year!!
Thank you Susan and the same to you and yours!
Gifts wrapped. Nope. Food cooked. Nope. House cleaned. Nope. Shopping done. Nope. My heart ready. Oh yes. That’s the most important thing. And my beautiful grandchildren. Think it may be gift bags this year. Is that okay?
Gift bags are totally fine! Hope your Christmas is wonderful!