Night Before Christmas

Thank you for displaying my poem (a modern version of The Night Before Christmas) on your website. I wrote it in just a few minutes several years ago to serve as an ending to a sermon. I fully expected that I would read it to close my sermon and that would be the end of it. Since that time, however, it has taken on a life of its own. People in my church asked for copies and mailed them to friends. Now the poem has appeared on many websites and in countless church newsletters. (If I had known that was going to happen, I would have spent additional time working on the meter and rhyme of the poem to make it flow more smoothly!)

Again, thanks for sharing my poem on your website! Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Rev. Jon Prain
Avon, Illinois
prain4u@avonil.net

The Night Before Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas
and all through the town,
Not a sign of baby Jesus
was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy
with Christmas time chores,
Like decorating, and baking,
and shopping in stores.

No one sang "Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed."
Instead, they sang of Santa
dressed up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart,
Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour upon hour
the presents they'd wrap.

When what from the TV
did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad that told
of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall
they all flew like a flash,
Buying things on credit
and others with cash!

And, as they made their way home
From their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus?
Oh, no... not at all.

Their lives were so busy
with their Christmas time things,
No time to remember
Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap,
and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember
Who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior,
they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time
to "Shop till they dropped!"

On Wal-mart! On K-mart!
On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales!
A quick lunch at Denny's.

From the big stores downtown
to the stores at the mall,
They would dash away, dash away,
and visit them all!

And up on the roof,
there arose such a clatter
As grandpa hung icicle lights
up on his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash.
He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus,
Light of the World.

Christ's eyes ... how they twinkle!
Christ's Spirit ... how merry!
Christ's love ... how enormous!
All our burdens ... He'll carry!

So instead of being busy,
overworked, and uptight,
Let's put Christ back in
Christmas, and enjoy
Some good nights!

(Rev. Jon Prain)

Home • Up • A Perfect Wife • A Politically Correct Christmas Story • Building Noah's Ark Today • Card File • Cat • Chicken Question • Dear God • Everyone Can Win • God and 57 Cents • God Said No • How Can I Truly Know Christ • In the Service • Isn't It Funny? • Jesus in the House • Keep Your Fork • Letters to God • Lord's Baseball Game • Miracle of Love • Moral of the Fence • Mule Sense • Night Before Christmas • One Step at a Time • Programming Contest • Smell the Rain • The Chair • Three Little Birds • Traveling Angels • What Are Grandparents? • What Is Needed to Get Into Heaven? • Who Did You Meet Today? • Who Do Angels Look Like? • Who Is Jesus?