But there has been a great amount of people who have asked about the poem I read on the 28th of December. Yes, I did write. No, I didn’t think it was that good. However, apparently there was many of you in the church who though it was. So here it is for your enjoyment.

The Sake of Good Tidings

by Curtis Thomas

For the sake of good tidings

And laughter and cheer

Tis the season to be jolly

For you, I and all to hear

Of a story that many of us

Have heard once before

From years back leaving all of us

Needing and wanting more.

But first a story of

Someone we all know

Someone real famous.

He’s from a place full of snow

With a workshop, wife

And elves all around

Here is the story, come one, come all,

Everyone gather around

Only three nights ago, a man swept our houses

With presents and such

Eating cookies and drinking milk

But surely not too much

Not enough to fill that big belly

That jiggles when he laughs

Not enough to make him sick

So that he never comes back

He’s fairly tall, real wide

And cheeks full of red

Putting presents under Christmas trees

While children are in bed

Down and then up

The chimney he goes

Maybe with the help of his reindeer

The one with the nose which glows

But then how does he fit down that chimney

So clean

Because mines really small

And I know he not that lean

But December 25^th,

I go downstairs to see

Presents laid out for me and my family,

And again for me.

And I scream real loud,

“Santa came! He came!

And he brought that bat, that ball

That bike, that game!”

I knew I was good

I tried real hard all year

I got A’s and B’s and took out the trash

And I also…well…I took out the trash

But it really does baffle me

How Santa passed by so quietly

He didn’t even wake my dad

Who was snoring very loudly

But I was awake

Waiting and listening all night

That noise, could it be

Oh maybe it might

“Santa’s on the roof!”

I thought many times before

But if I went and looked

I wasn’t sure what would be in store

But if I waited just a bit longer

I knew he would come

And in the morning all those toys

That living room full of fun

See, just the other day

I sat on his lap

Told him of things

I dreamt of when I napped

That bat, that ball

That bike, that game!

All the things I wanted

And nothing the same.

And when I was done

I smiled big for the camera’s flash

But I didn’t get down

There was one thing I had to ask

I said, “Santa, why do you wait all year

For this day,

To make all these toys and then

Fill your sleigh?

Spend all your time finding who’s

Naughty and nice?

And live way up north

Where there is way too much ice?

And your only neighbor

Is a penguin or two

I heard elves are only friendly

If you give them good food.

And why waste your time

Competing with Toys-R-Us

You can go with my mom and aunt

On Black Friday, they say it’s a must!

Really Santa, there’s just one thing

I must know

Why would anyone do this?

Why would anyone go?”

And with that last question

His eyes got real wide

And his mouth formed a grin

That his cheeks could not hide

He leaned in to whisper

In my ear real softly

His beard tickled my face, but I did not care

I wanted to hear his answer mostly

He said, “For the sake of good tidings

And laughter and cheer

Tis the season to be jolly

For you and I to hear

Of a story that you

May have heard once before

From years back leaving you and I

Needing more.

See, there was a woman who gave birth

To a child one night

This child was so amazing

That there appeared a great light

In the fields where the shepherds

Were protecting their sheep

The angels told them the news

And then began to leap

With joy and with laughter

A great party was being had

The shepherds thought they were crazy

And they were going mad

‘But could this be true,’

The shepherds thought to themselves

‘The savior is born

Who will save us from ourselves?’

So they gathered all their things

And went to see this baby

The one the angels raved about

And then went crazy

But it wasn’t in a hotel, a house

Home or room

Instead in an stable, in the dirt

Under the moon

And the shepherds bowed down

To worship this child

He was named Jesus, the baby

Laying there so mild

Who would soon give his life

So that you and I could have

The greatest gift of all

In our hearts He would live.

So when you ask, ‘why do you wait all year

For this day,

To make all these toys and then

Fill your sleigh?

Spend all your time finding who’s

Naughty and nice?

And live way up north

Where skating was made for ice?

And I have many neighbors

Freddy the penguin and his wife Sue

And the elves who are always friendly

But they still love food.

So really son, there’s just one thing

You must know

I do this because Jesus did it

So long along

And when you wake up

With all those toys under your tree

Know one thing

Christmas is not about me!

I was given a gift

So now I give one away too

And after a while it will break down

And you’ll want something new

And next year I’ll give you another

Just like today

But Jesus’ gift never breaks down

And can never be thrown away!”

What Santa said was so amazing

So real!

I knew he was telling the truth

It was something I could feel

I was so excited

Not just for toys and for games

But for something that’s real

Something that would stay

So as I lay in my bed

And wait for Santa and his sleigh

I am reminded what he said

Just a while back on that day

So I fold my hands

And close my eyes real tight

And say, “Happy Birthday Jesus.

This is your night!”