This Is Christmas Day

Take away the Christmas tree
From the City Square.
Take away the manger scene 
We don't need it there.

Take away the shining lights.
The stars are still above.
And we don't need these plastic things
To tell us of God's Love!

Take away the little lamb.
Take away the hay.
In our hearts this special time
Will still be Christmas Day.

Take away the wise men
And the little shepherd boy.
Do you think that will remove
This celebration of God's Joy?

For Christmas can't be anything
But the Birthday of our King.
Take away the things of clay
And still our praises ring!

You can say that day is night
Or that the night is day.
But, your words are worthless.
We know this is Christmas Day !

How I love the wonder in
A little child's first sight,
Of the star of Bethlehem -
All shinning in the night!

Mary's face, the Baby's smiles
And Joseph's tender care...
Little ones deserve to see
This "fabled" scene so rare.

But take  it all away and see
How God supplies our need.
He was flesh and blood.
We know the story of God's seed.

In our hearts that manger bed
Holds the promise of God's Love.
You can never take away
What God sent us from above!

You can't issue orders to 
Take stars down from the sky.
Christmas trees will still grow tall
On mountains, snowy white.

Love will still encircle earth,
As if to hear Him say,
"In your hearts you still will know
That this is Christmas Day !"

         Copyright Joan Clifton Costner
        http://underhiswings0.tripod.com