Short Christmas Childhood Joy Poem

by G.P.
(Philadelphia, PA, USA)

Christmas to me is more than an exchange of gifts. It's a time to be grateful, remember blessings, and celebrate family. I grew up in a small one, with one brother and one step-sister. So every member is special to me.

I like to shop for Christmas all year round. If I see something special that someone will love, I pick it up and I hold onto it so that often by October, my Christmas shopping is done.

My favorite tradition is picking one family member - a different one each year - to be the recipient of a bigger gift. Not necessarily a more expensive gift, but something that's absolutely perfect for him or her. And that gift receives special treatment.

Last year I gave my sister-in-law two tickets to see WICKED, which she had wanted to see since its release. She and my brother had just celebrated the birth of their first baby a few months before, so the gift included dinner of their choice (delivered to their house by me), and babysitting for the night by my mom and me.

The tickets and paper explaining the ‘date night’ plan were wrapped and placed in the bottom of a photo box. On top, nestled in tissue paper, was a series of wooden blocks that spelled out the word WICKED. I had jumbled the letters in the box and to get the tickets below, my sister-in-law had to arrange the blocks to spell WICKED. She figured it out immediately and was thrilled!

Bringing a bit of childlike joy and excitement to a busy holiday is my way of making Christmas special.

Short Christmas Poem, Childhood Joy

A brother and sister awake before dawn,
wake up their parents, yelling “Come on!”
Up rise the parents out of the bed,
sleepy eyed, bleary, with tousled "bed head."

Watching the children as they jump up and down,
it's Christmas morning, Santa’s been to town!
Time spent with family, good food and good cheer,
it's Christmas again, the best time of year!