Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Claus

Each Thanksgiving      
a Christmas Wish insert    
sponsored by the United Way    
accompanies our county's newspaper
  
It's an opportunity for local ‘Angels'      
to ease less-fortunate suffering      
     
Nothing out of the ordinary      
appeared from previous years—    
a meal, groceries, clothes, toys    
firewood, an affordable home    
help with utilities, a car      
and so forth      
     
until the request      
by an eight-year-old boy       
     
"A Bicycle Repair Kit"    
     
He wasn’t wishing    
for a brand new bicycle;      
but, a $2.00 repair kit      
to fix his old one’s flat      
     
I wasn’t sure      
what to think of that—      
was he appreciative      
for what he had;    
or, just taking care      
of what he owned—    
perhaps he was afraid      
to ask for more      
because he felt      
he hadn’t been good—    
maybe he'd been taught      
the quality of age;    
things aren't made      
like they were, after all      
     
I thought of Solomon    
who could've asked for anything    
his heart desired—    
but, wished only for wisdom      
to lead God's people instead;    
yet was gifted all things      
beyond his imagining      
because of humility    
     
Regardless, a new bike      
replete with repair kit      
is what this kid deserved—    
anonymously, of course;      
because Angels should remain just that:    
The Spirit of Christmas in disguise   
   miracles whose only name is Love—      
   proving the humble are worthy      
   of so much more      
   than imagined possible   
   or even wished for        
~

Meet Pinto the mouse and his family of three,
who live down my garden by the roots of a tree
Elmina his wife and their two naughty boys,
Hushka the quiet and Deano the noise.

One dark Christmas eve came a tap at my door
and there they stood this cold family of the four.
The snow was so heavy it had filled up their home
and poor little Hushka was froze to the bone.

"Oh please can you help us"? said Elmina in tears,
"it's no fun for small mice at this time of year".
Pinto explained they’d got caught in the snow,
dug themselves out but had nowhere to go.

"Come in" I said, "the fires nice and warm,
I'll get you some soup and keep you from harm".
For Elmina and Pinto I made a bed from a box,
while Hushka and Deano snuggled down in a sock.

In the morning I woke with poor Huska in tears
and Deano was shouting with his nose in my ear.
Wake up, wake up, we’ve had a bad dream,
It's now Christmas day and Santa’s not been.

Oh, I said and looked out through the frost
perhaps when you moved poor Santa got lost.
I gave them breakfast, some cream and mince pies,
then we all wrapped up warm and went outside.

Look! said Huska there are tracks on the roof,
Oh yes! said Deano, they're reindeers hoofs.
We followed the trail to the roots of their tree,
the boys started digging and giggled with glee.

They disappeared into tunnels but finally came back,
running towards us with two bright red sacks.
"You had us all worried", Elmina said,
"Santa left these in the snow by our beds".

They took them inside and we sat with the boys
and watched as they quickly unwrapped their toys.
I made Christmas dinner and the mice had some cheese
then we all played some games because the boys said please.

That night as we drifted to sleep in our beds,
the boys spoke quiet but I heard what they said.
Deano was glad we were all there together,
and Hushka thought it was his best Christmas ever.

Slumber quiet, my dear sweet child
The vex you fear, my presence in all hemispheres
Please let me calm those notions wild
I am here that everlasting Christmas cheer

As i laboured in the north
The doubts you harbour
Spoken now as secret thoughts
To bring a smile so wide with my endevours

Because belief and cherish can be lost
So just the job to write a list
My credibility melt like thawing frost
For faith will help my all exist

To be that wish with sparkle round
Fly by night and pulled by dreams
As rainbows colours arch in bands
I will come like make believe

Do not waver from a goodness creed
And with practiced stealth that eve
Try so hard just as you please
 C'ause just for you I live and breath

 Seek that box that bears your name
That stocking full for you to claim
Excitement "just" that you display
Your gifts my entourage have made

Sweet Virginia I am that Clause
Not just Red garb and hearty laugh
Beneficence that giving shows
A true fact not just perhaps

Maybe because today has been one year
Since you’ve been gone,
I get more nostalgic around the season,
I still mourn you in a way.

Sometimes I see you in strangers,
Or when I see men my age with their fathers
I think – that could’ve been us.
Or when I see an old man in the street,
In dire straits
I think – at one time that was you.

Maybe it’s because around this time of year,
I look back and appreciate you more,
All the troubles and tribulations you went through,
All the plights I’ll never know.

But I see you in those men,
In cold winter mornings on my way to work,
In their slow walk,
With white beards,
The breath visible in the air,
Empty stomachs.

One meal,
I think,
Just one meal will get that man through the day,
Buying a stranger in need one meal will give him hope,
Showing someone kindness will give them faith,
To maybe one day see his family again,
After all it’s the season of giving,
So I’ll give a little bit of hope.

“Give me an extra # 2”
Maybe in feeding a stranger,
I’m feeding you,
For the times you were homeless or hungry,
Without the hope of seeing us again,
And maybe
I’ll see your smile in a stranger’s face.

The time once again to celebrate Christ
remember His birth and huge sacrifice
Born in the manger, HE took on flesh
the Son of a virgin, the first miracle success
 
His beginning so humble, not fit for a king
the story be told and the praises we sing
we share same traditions, the giving of gifts
decorations, celebrations and spirits we lift
 
It is time to remember, the most famous of births
That was ever recorded on this planet earth
He walked around among us, salvation his plan
redemption of sinners,for every woman and man
 
His wisdom He left us, incase you've not heard
It's "The number one best seller", we call it the word
The truths and the wisdom, Have stood test of time
"Jesus Christ Happy Birthday", The Savior of mine