Bonnie Carter's Christmas

When Marmie was 5 years old, her pastor wrote her a Christmas story.  For our family, the emotional connection is sort of Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus and The Polar Express.  During my childhood, it was read alongside those stories and taught us more about the meaning of Christmas.  Marmie's kept it all these years, the yellowed thin paper nearly punched where the typewriter keys struck it.  I know it is one of her most treasured gifts.

Bonnie Carter's Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, in Bonnie Carter's house,
And Bonnie in her nightie, was as quiet as any mouse.
With covers tucked around her ears, all snug and warm in bed,
Just like the clouds tucked-in the stars, so high in heav'n o'erhead.

The snow was gently falling, and things were, oh so quietened.
That she almost didn't dare to breathe, for fear that she might frighten,
The jolly man who was to come, with toys and gifts for all,
And so she quietly waited, to hear his footsteps fall.

She thought of dolls as big as life, with curls and eyes that cry,
She thought of trains and candy canes, and aeroplanes that fly.
She thought of Christmas stockings, filled with candy soldier bands,
And she wished her feet were twice as big, as Rodney's and Nan's.

As thoughts of all these pretty things, rolled round her pretty head,
She thought that she must surely jump, right off her little bed.
For waiting was the awfullest thing; time never passed away,
When you had to wait for morning, and another Christmas day.

And then she thought of far off lands, where children play and shout,
And wondered in her little heart, if some might be left out.
She thought of all the little ones, who had no mom or dad,
Cause wars had taken them away, cause grown-ups had been bad.

And as she lay there thinking, she saw a far-off light,
At first she thought twas just a car, coming home at night.
But as she looked more closely, it was not a car at all,
But shining through the clouds and snow, the brightest star of all.

She sat up in her little bed, and thought, "how could this be,
That the brightest star in heaven, is shining just for me?"
And as she rubbed her sleepy eyes, and pondered what this meant,
She heard an angel clearly say, "To you my Son is sent."

And then did she remember, oh how could she have forgot,
That Christmas is a feeling that's not made by what you got.
But made by what you give away, tis this that makes you tall.
And God must be the happiest, for he gave the most of all.

His gift, not bought with money, nor rubies, nor pearls,
Is free to everyone on earth, to all the boys and girls.
Makes no difference where on earth they live, how sad their hearts, or blue,
Cause this star that shines so bright for me, is shining for them too.

Though grown-ups may forsake them, and quarrel, and fight, and fuss,
There's a gift from God at Christmas, sent especially for us.
For He watches o'er His children, in a special kind of way,
Cause He sent His Son so we could have, a happy Christmas day.

In the distance there's a tinkling, of the bells on Santa's sleigh,
But Bonnie doesn't hear them, in her dreams she's far away.
There's a funny little angel smile, a halo round her head,
And a light that only she could see, shines on her little bed.

The poem is copyrighted by Bob Poulk and used with permission.

Merry Christmas everyone and to all a good night!

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