Christmas Lights

I watch for snowflakes floating down on my quiet town.

Maybe we’ll have a Christmas, white? That’s my hope for tonight’s dark and chilly winter sky.

Can this Holiday feel like it should, with crackling fire, burning wood,

pine filled air from fresh cut trees, but not a snowflake to be seen?

I stare up at the starry sky and think back to an ancient time

when light was spoken through the dark and sun’s first living rays sparked

to life a growing infant earth and made a home for human birth.

Those stars make me think again of times long passed after sin

had infected infant earth and a faith-filled man was promised birth

at 100 years, of age a child who would set the stage

for a nation and a tribe that numbers greater than the sky’s lights 

and greater than the sand, the rescue sent for woman and man;

from their sin and their death; one who would finally bring earth back to rest.

Then I recall, this Christmas night, another Holy starlit sight

when prophesy became flesh and a young woman was called blessed.

For in her arms she held a babe, wrapped in swaddling cloth and laid

in a manger as foretold by angels and prophets of old.

And as that child watched seasons change the star of Jacob lit the way

for Magi to set at His feet gifts, and worship stable-born child as King.

A king who when he became grown would choose, instead of rightful throne,

a convict’s death to pay for human's sinful way. He would stay in the grave 3 days,

before He rose, having beaten death, put love to the test,

proved His wish to make us His and suffer himself to let us live

where gates are pearl and streets are gold, where no tear is shed nor body grows old

and time is spent in freedom and life so we could see relationship through his father’s eyes.

So although I see no snow tonight I see the distant starry light

that watched as God created, and called good, his creation. Until they didn’t do as they should;

they watched His perfect plan be revealed to Father Abraham.

They saw his lineage grow until the birth of Jesus showed

that our own efforts could never win, only grace could overpower sin.

A white Christmas this may not be but more festive than stockings, present or tree,

is something timeless that from the start was revealing the Father’s heart.

A decoration that glitters above has been quietly observing our Father's love.

A holy day need not be white, it need only be covered in starlight

to fill me with awe-filled praise and remember why we celebrate Christmas day.