During the Christmas season, we enjoy time with our families and often remember loved ones who have passed away. Their precious memory helps us to cherish and appreciate the time we spend with those we love.
As we celebrate this joyous season this year, many Americans have suffered loss of their jobs, homes and financial security due to recent failures on Wall Street. But Christmas can be a sad and lonely time if we dwell too much on material things (gained and lost) and forget the greatest gift ever given – God’s only Son born in a lowly manger who came down from heaven to die for our sins. This is the good news of Christmas.
In 1985, I wrote this poem about an earthly father who had passed away but did not forget his promise to his little girl for Christmas day. May the Lord make your Christmas one to remember.
He Wouldn’t Be Coming
With her eyes filled with tears the little girl wouldn’t see,
why Santa couldn’t come this year.
But Daddy had died and she was just 5 years old,
so life wasn’t really very clear.
Nor could Mama explain with her heart filled with grief,
that Santa had just passed away.
For Santa had loved them so very much,
but he wouldn’t be coming Christmas day.
And though they were poor, not a year had gone by
that Santa hadn’t brought a surprise.
It’s hard enough to explain when Daddy goes away,
but impossible when Santa Claus dies.
After the funeral there was no money left,
Mama had done all she could do.
Her little girl wouldn’t get that one special doll,
with all of the bills overdue.
So perhaps it was time to tell her of life,
and destroy the dream she held dear.
To tell her that Santa was really her dad,
and he wouldn’t be coming this year.
‘Twas the night before Christmas and like all other kids,
the little girl was early to bed.
For she knew that Santa would bring her a doll,
that’s the last thing her Daddy had said.
But no stockings were hung by their chimney with care,
no presents were under their tree,
and Mama was crying alone in her room.
This wasn’t how Christmas should be.
Then through all the tears she saw something strange,
lying there under the bed.
A brown paper bag with a letter inside,
these are the words that she read.
“Darling, I’ve known I’ve been sick for a very long time,
I’m sorry, but I had to go.
Though I can’t be with you at Christmas this year,
there’s something I want you to know.
“I’ll miss your sweet smile when these presents you get,
I’ll miss Heather’s face all aglow.
It may not be much, but I didn’t forget,
Merry Christmas – I love you so.”
For Mama he’d bought a pretty white dress,
just like she had when they wed.
And there was the doll for his little girl too,
just like her Daddy had said.
She never forgot that cute baby doll,
she never forgot her dear Dad.
And Mama remembers that Christmas so well,
when Santa couldn’t come – but he had.
© 1985 Roy S. Moore
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Josh Hammer