FRUITCAKE FOR THE SOUL: PRINTER AND HANDICAP-FRIENDLY VERSION

fruitcake for the soul

Pour a cup of hot chocolate, turn on the tree, and enjoy a mixed bag of Christmas poetry and prose.

Christmas 1976

Christ walked into a department store
     recently.
His eyes blinked in amazement as He
     wandered though the silver evergreens,
     while red, yellow, and blue stars blinked
     above His head.
Surely, this was not the way He had remembered it
     at that glorious time of creation.
Relief filled His heart as He glimpsed familiar
     shepherds,
     But they were lifeless, hard and hollow;
     not anything like His Father had made.
They bowed before the silent angels revolving
     on steel wires above their heads.
It was all so cold and heartless.
     Plastic shells of humanity.
I came to give life, to give it abundantly, He pondered
     as electronic ornaments beeped "Joy to the World."
"Don't you want life?"
     He called out to the villagers.
But they just smiled with their hand-painted
     expressions as they hurriedly shopped for more
     plastic and vinyl
          and stared past the life in the manger.

© 1976 James N. Watkins

Christmas at K-mart

ATTENTION SHOPPERS. Now for the next three minutes, at the flashing blue light, we have on sale this beautiful hand-crafted teak wood nativity set. Each figure is elegantly clothed in beautiful satin and . . .

. . . she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

While you're there, be sure to see our three-foot weather-proof hand-painted plastic nativity figures. They'll look perfect on your front lawn. Plus they come complete with 100-watt bulbs and . . .

. . . there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

In our hardware department burglar alarms and security lights are on sale this week only. And in our sporting department, check out the low prices on our rifles, shotguns, and . . .

. . . and the angel said to the, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto us is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

. . . And in our toy department, GI Joe action figures are just half price. And see the entire Star Wars collector featuring the all new light sabers, death rays, and . . .

. . . suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.

And don't forget, Santa Claus will be arriving in just a few moments. The first ten boys and girls will receive a special gift from Santa and . . .

. . . they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

We hope you've found everything on your list, to make this a joyful Christmas. Please come again, and . . .

. . . the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.

Christmas Dreams

We can dream of a white Christmas,
With gifts under the tree,
Sugar plums and peace on earth,
Loving families.

But dreams can come true
in the gift of God's own Son,
With sin as white as snow,
And peace to everyone.

We can dream of love and harmony,
And joy to all the earth,
But dreams are only fantasies,
without the Savior's birth.

'Cause dreams can come true
in the gift of God's own Son,
With sin as white as snow,
And peace to everyone.

Mystery (of Nativity)

Holy God of life and light,
In a stable in the dead of night,
It's a myst'ry of Nativity.
Maker of all human flesh,
Nursing at a virgin's breast,
It's a myst'ry of Nativity.

That God would become Man
To die and live again,
That humanity might know Divinity.

Ruler of the wide cosmos,
Bound and tied in swaddling clothes,
It's a myst'ry of Nativity.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
Bound and nailed on two rough boards,
It's a myst'ry of Nativity.

That God would become Man
To die and live again,
That humanity might know Divinity.

© 1993 James N. Watkins