BBC Radio Leicester Thought for the Day
© John Denney 15 December 2004
Ten
days before Christmas, and all round the town
Leicester’s
shoppers are bushed, their bank balances down.
In
Shires[1]
and in Fosse Park[2] we hear the bells
ring
Just
hear those tills jingling: ker-ching-ching-ker-ching!
The
panic is rising – what can I get Mabel?
Last
year’s vase that I gave her’s never seen on her table.
For
Emma’s new baby there’s a Filbert the Fox[3]
But
I can’t think what for her Dad but some socks.
The
cards are all written and ready to post
To
our friends and our family – the ones we love most.
Each
year comes the card signed “Love, Norman and Bess”
It
makes us feel guilty ‘cos we’ve lost their address.
And
don’t we just know that we’re bound to feel rotten
When
we get a card from someone we’ve forgotten?
What
else for Christmas? Tradition, repeats.
Mustn’t
forget all the snacks and the sweets.
And
the games must be played, everything properly!
Now
where did we put the cards and Monopoly?
Check
list: turkey and crackers and pudding and sprouts
What
have I forgotten? – I’m having such
doubts;
At
the back of my mind I’m missing something.
Of
course! It is Christmas – the birth of
our King!
Mid
thoughts of the food and the booze and the presents
It’s
all about Jesus – his coming, his presence.
To
certain poor shepherds the angel did say
“In
Bethlehem town, in a manger of hay
Lies
a baby who’s human, who’s also divine:
He’ll
teach you and love you, change water to wine;
He’ll
teach you forgiveness - seventy times seven -
He’ll
die so your sins will not keep you from heaven.”
So
“glory to God in the highest” we say
For
the gift of salvation that came Christmas Day.
And
yes, have a party, be jolly, have fun!
For
through Jesus, our Saviour, the vict’ry is won!
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