The city council met at Nine
To debate the issues of the day,
Their session started with a prayer,
But didn't end that way.

 

By Four O'clock a shouting match
Had erupted in the room,
So much controversy,
The whole council out of tune.

 

It seems that city funds were low,
And Christmas time was near,
Their fight was over Christmas lights,
And other Christmas gear.

 

One side said, "No! Don't waste the dough,"
Those opposing said, "We must,
We owe it to the townsfolk,
Who've put their trust in us."

 

"Well, that's too bad."  They shook their heads,
"Life isn't always fair,"
Then they agreed no lighted tree,
No decorations in The Square.

 

No shiny tinsel, no colored lights,
No gleaming garlands twined around,
The town's old Fir would stand as is,
Untouched and bare upon the ground.

 

The townsfolk were, of course, upset,
That year'd been hard on everyone,
The mill was closed and business bad,
The town was near undone

 

Money was tight ... no work at hand,
The Christmas season looked bleak,
Folks depressed and in despair,
This Christmas ... bitter-sweet.

 

The day before Christmas came and went,
Small children were warned Christmas Eve,
Don't plan on Santa Claus to come,
And don't expect a Christmas tree.

 

Sad little faces then went to bed.
And drifted off to sleep,
Their parents snugly tucked them in,
And kissed their tear-stained cheeks.

 

Well, God works in mysterious ways,
As we adults have come to know,
And that very night at Midnight,
Arose a terrible blow.

 

The wind came up and rang the bells,
In every church bell tower,
They rang in joy together,
In pronouncement of the hour.

 

Then the heavens opened up,
And ten million snow flakes fell,
That covered every house and tree,
And spread a Christmas spell.

 

The moonlight shimmering on the snow
Reflected many times,
No Christmas lights were quite as bright,
As those that this night shined.

 

And in the morning ... Christmas Day,
A magic wonderland appeared,
Its beauty far surpassed
The man-made frills of prior years.

 

A white dove, like an angel,
Sat atop the old Fir tree,
And cardinals strung red berries 'round,
For everyone to see.

 

Snowdrops clung like garlands,
While icicles gleamed from limbs,
Busy chipmunks scattered acorns,
And squirrels brought red flowers in.

 

The children were delighted,
And the adults smiled all day,
Only God could decorate,
In such a wondrous way.

 

Forget the city council,
And the mill that was shut down,
Those things can't spoil Christmas,
Nor the reason it was found.

 

Just thank the Grand Designer,
For doing things His way,
 Merry Christmas to You All,
 And God Bless Your Christmas Day.

 

Virginia (Ginny) Ellis
Copyright December 2003