Cathmoms Prayers, Poems and Stories

Page 3

BIRDIES

This is a true story that occurred in 1994 and was told by Lloyd Glen Throughout our lives we are blessed with spiritual experiences, some of which are very sacred and confidential, and others, although sacred, are meant to be shared. Last summer my family had a spiritual experience that had a lasting and profound impact on us, one we feel must be shared. It's a message of love. It's a message of regaining perspective, and restoring proper balance and renewing priorities. In humility. I pray that I might,in relating this story, give you a gift my little son, Brian gave our family one summer day last year

.On July 22nd I was in route to Washington, DC for a business trip. It was also very ordinary, until we landed in Denver for a plane change. As I collected my belongings from the overhead bin, an announcement was made for Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United Customer Service Representative immediately. I thought nothing of it until I reached the door to leave the plane and I heard a gentleman asking every male if they were Mr. Glenn. At this point I knew something was wrong and my heart sunk. When I got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said, "Mr. Glenn there is an emergency at your home. I do not know what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I will take you to the phone so you can call the hospital. My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm took over. Woodenly, I followed this stranger to the distant telephone where I called the number he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was put through to the trauma center where I learned that my three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife had found him he was dead. CPR had been performed by a neighbor, who is a doctor, and the paramedics had continued the treatment as Brian was transported to the hospital. By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they believed he would live, but they did not know how much damage had been done to his brain, nor to his heart. They explained that the door had completely closed on his little sternum right over his heart. He had been severely crushed. After speaking with the medical staff, my wife sounded worried but not hysterical, and I took comfort in her calmness. The return flight seemed to last forever, but finally I arrived at the hospital six hours after the garage door had come down.

When I walked in to the intensive care unit, nothing could have prepared me to see my little son laying so still on a great big bed with tubes and monitors everywhere. He was on a respirator.I glanced at my wife who stood and tried to give me a reassuring smile.It all seemed like a terrible dream. I was filled in with the details and given a guarded prognosis. Brian was going to live, and the preliminary tests indicated that his heart was OK. Two miracles, in and of themselves. But only time would tell if his brain received any damage. Throughout the seemingly endless hours, my wife was calm. She felt that Brian would eventually be all right. I hung on to her words and faith like a lifeline. All that night and the next day,Brian remained unconscious. It seemed like forever since I had left for my business trip the day before. Finally at two o'clock that afternoon, our son regained consciousness and sat up uttering the most beautiful words I have ever heard spoken, He said, "Daddy hold me," and he reached for me with his little arms. [TEAR BREAK...smile] By the next day he was pronounced as having no neurological or physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous survival spread throughout the hospital. You cannot imagine our gratitude and joy. As we took Brian home we felt a unique reverence for the life and love Of our Heavenly Father that comes to those who brush death so closely.

In the days that followed there was a special spirit about our home. Our two older children were much closer to their little brother. My wife and I were much closer to each other, and all of us were very close as a whole family. Life took on a less stressful pace. Perspective seemed to be more focused, and balance much easier to gain and maintain. We felt deeply blessed. Our gratitude was truly profound.[The story is not over] (smile)

Almost a month later to the day of the accident, Brian awoke from his afternoon nap and said, "Sit down mommy. I have something to tell you." At this time in his life, Brian usually spoke in small phrases, so to say a large sentence surprised my wife. She sat down with him on his bed and he began his sacred and remarkable story. "Do you remember when I got stuck under the garage door? Well, it was soheavy and it hurt really bad. I called to you, but you couldn't hear me. I started to cry, but then it hurt too bad. And then the "birdies" came "The birdies?" my wife asked puzzled. "Yes," he replied. "The birdies" made a whooshing sound and flew into the garage. They took care of me." "They did?" "Yes, he said." "One of the birdies" came and got you. She came to tell you I got stuck under the door." A sweet reverent feeling filled the room. The spirit was so strong and yet lighter than air. My wife realized that a three-year-old had no concept of death and spirits, so he was referring to the beings who came to him from beyond as "birdies" because they were up in the air like birds that fly. "What did the birdies look like?" she asked. Brian answered. "They were so beautiful. They were dressed in white all white. Some of them had green and white. But some of them had on just white." "Did they say anything?" "Yes," he answered. They told me the baby would be all right." "The baby?" my wife asked confused. And Brian answered. "The baby laying on the garage floor." He went on, "You came out and opened the garage door and ran to the baby. You told the baby to stay and not leave." My wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for she had indeed gone and knelt beside Brian's body and seeing his crushed chest and unrecognizable features, knowing he was already dead, she looked up around her and whispered, "Don't leave us Brian, please stay if you can. As she listened to Brian telling her the words she had spoken, she realized that the spirit had left his body and was looking down from above on this little lifeless form. "Then what happened?" she asked. "We went on a trip." He said, "Far, far away.." He grew agitated trying to say the things he didn't seem to have the words for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him, and let him know it would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell something that obviously was very important to him, but finding the words was difficult. "We flew so fast up in the air." They're so pretty Mommy." He added. "And there is lots and lots of birdies." My wife was stunned. Into her mind the sweet comforting spirit enveloped her more soundly, but with an urgency she had never before known. Brian went on to tell her that the 'birdies' had told him that he had to come back and tell everyone about the "birdies." He said they brought him back to the house and that a big fire truck, and an ambulance were there. A man was bringing the baby out on a white bed and he tried to tell the man the baby would be okay, but the man couldn't hear him. He said, "Birdies told him he had to go with the ambulance, but they would be near him. He said, they were so pretty and so peaceful, and he didn't want to come back. And then the bright light came. He said that the light was so bright and so warm, and he loved the bright light so much. Someone was in the bright light and put their arms around him, and told him, "I love you but you have to go back. You have to play baseball, and tell everyone about the birdies." Then the person in the bright light kissed him and waved bye-bye. Then whoosh, the big sound came and they went into the clouds." The story went on for an hour. He taught us that "birdies" were always with us, but we don't see them because we look with our eyes and we don't hear them because we listen with our ears. But they are always there, you can only see them in here (he put his hand over his heart). They whisper the things to help us to do what is right because they love us so much. Brian continued, stating, "I have a plan, Mommy. You have a plan. Daddy has a plan. Every one has a plan. We must all live our plan and keep our promises. The "birdies help us to do that cause they love us so much."

In the weeks that followed, he often came to us and told all, or part of it again and again. Always the story remained the same. The details were never changed or out of order. A few times he added further bits of information and clarified the message he had already delivered. It never ceased to amaze us how he could tell such detail and speak beyond his ability when he spoke of his "birdies." Everywhere he went, he told strangers about the "birdies." Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him strangely when he did this. Rather, they always get a softened look on their face and smiled. Needless to say, we have not been the same ever since that day, and I pray we never will be.

The End

PRAYER FOR OUR TIMES

In a selfish world that seeks to destroy You, O Lord, and in a world mounted with false gods and pyramids of pleasure, we seek You, O Lord with a loving and sincere heart.

In a listless world that has lost its divine beat and pulsates erratically with hate, envy, jealousy, greed, and every type of crime, we listen for the comforting words You uttered to a little girl when You took her by the hand and said: "Telitha Koum" - Little girl rise.

In a faithless world we strive to touch the hem of Your garment and our reach is not long enough, it seems, and our courage is hardly reflective of Your undying loyalty and love for us.

In a blind world we search the walls and wells of time, for at least some small penetrating light to restore our faith in You, O Lord and to leave all things directed to Almighty God.

In a musty and ill-smelling world sunken very low in the foul odors of the flesh pots of our sexually-crazed society we look to You, O Lord, for relief from the swamps of filth and corruption to make our taste and smell wholly responsive to the Divine Banquet and the Last Supper in reparation for our sins and the sins of others. The Last Supper became the beginning of our frequent convenant with You, O Lord, in the incensation of the oblation by the angels themselves and in the Divine-Human harmony.

In a deaf, indifferent, and unconcerned world, O Lord, grant us the hearing of the Holy Word and never close the Holy Words to us. We hope to share in Your life, in Your Peace, in Your Justice that we remain always in perfect accord with You. May the deep springs of grace issue forth the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit so that we too may be filled with Divine Love and with Divine Compassion. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ who dwells in eternity with the Father and the Holy Spirit as one God now and forever. Amen.

TEACH ME TO PRAY

Lord, I know not what to ask of Thee. Thou only knowest what I need. Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Heavenly Father, give to Thy child what he knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either cross or consolations. I stand before Thee. I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs that I know not of; behold and do Thou according to Thy mercy. I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them. Smite me or heal me, depress me or lift me up; I am silent. I offer myself to Thee. I yield to Thee. I no longer have any desire but to do Thy will. Lord, teach me to pray. Amen.

Three Trees

Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they
wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked at the
stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold
and filled with precious stones. I will be the most beautiful treasure
chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream
trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty
waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the
world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy
men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain
top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people look at me, they'll
raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in
the world."
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the three little trees grew tall.
One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The firstwoodcutter looked at the first
tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe,
the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made intoa beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful
treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and
said "This tree is strong, it is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe the second
tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters," thought the second tree "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way.
She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But thewoodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's
shop, but the carpenter fashioned her into a feedbox for animals. The once
beautiful tree was not covered with gold or with treasure. She was coated
in sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no
mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was
hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too
weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a
little lake.The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong
beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree
wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their
dreams. But one night golden starlight poured over the first tree as a
woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a
cradle for him" her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and
smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. "This manger
is beautiful," she said. And, suddenly the first tree knew that he was
holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing
boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree sailed quietly out into
the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree
shuddered, she knew she didn't have the strength to carry so many
passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened.
He stood up, stretched out his hand and said "Peace". The storm stopped as
quickly as it had begun. And, suddenly the second tree knew that he was carrying
the King of Heaven and Earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked
from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an
angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to
her. She felt ugly, harsh and cruel. But, on Sunday morning, when the sun
rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that
God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And
every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So, the next time you feel down because you didn't get what you wanted,
just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something BETTER to
give you!

A Unique Look at the Week

MONDAY -- WASH DAY
God help me wash away my selfishness and vanity,
so I may serve you with perfect humility through
the week ahead.

TUESDAY -- IRONING DAY
God, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice
I have collected through the years so that I may
see the beauty in others.

WEDNESDAY -- MENDING DAY
God, help me mend my ways so that I will not set a
bad example for others.

THURSDAY - CLEANING DAY
God, help me to dust out all the many faults I have
been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

FRIDAY -- SHOPPING DAY
God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may
purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others
in need of love.

SATURDAY -- COOKING DAY
God, help me to brew a big kettle of brotherly love
and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

SUNDAY --
God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come
into my heart as my honored guest so I say spend the
day and the rest of my life in your presence.

Your Angel

Bare foot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go
by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people
passed, but never did one person stop.

Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park
curious if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very
spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high, with the saddest
look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to
the little girl. As we all know a park full of strange people is
not a place for young children to play alone.

As I began walking towards her I could see the back of the little
girl's dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason
the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got
closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent
stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely
shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK, I
was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little
girl acted shocked and stammered a hi after a long stare into my
eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked 'til darkness
fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we
at once were alone. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The
little girl looked at me and with a sad face said "Because I'm
different."I immediately said "that you are!" and smiled. The little girl
acted even sadder, she said, "I know." "Little girl," I said, "you
remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent." She
looked at me and smiled, slowly she stood to her feet, and
said, "Really?""Yes, ma'am, you're like a little guardian angel
sent to watch over all those people walking by."

She nodded her head yes and smiled, and with that she spread her
wings and said, "I am. I'm your guardian angel," with a twinkle in
her eye. I was speechless, sure I was seeing things.
She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself, my
job here is done."Immediately I stood to my feet and said,
"Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?"

She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one who could see me,
and you believe it in your heart." And She was gone. And with
that my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you're
all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.

Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you.... make
sure you send it back to the person who sent it to you, to let them
know you're glad they care about you... like the story says we all
need someone.. :o)

Every one of your friends is an angel in their own way

The Gold Slippers

It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of the season
hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking
lot of our local discount store. Inside the store, it was worse.
Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles.
Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much
as my head. My list contained names of several people who claimed
they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I
didn't buy them anything.Buying for someone who had everything
and deploring the high costof items, I considered gift-buying
anything but fun.

Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and
proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but
it looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait.

In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 5 and a
younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large,
tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too
short jeans.He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The
girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted
mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small
face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As
the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl
hummed along, off-key but happily.

When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl
carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as
though they were a treasure. The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09,"
she said. The boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he
searched his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we
will have to put them back, " he bravely said. "We will come back
some other time, maybe tomorrow."With that statement, a soft
sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes, "
she cried. "Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry.
We'll come back," he said.Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier.
These children had waited in line for a long time. And,
after all, it was Christmas.

Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said,
"Thank you lady.""What did you mean when you said
Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked. The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick
and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be
with Jesus." The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in
heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't mommy be
beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?"
My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes" I
answered, "I am sure she will."

Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of
the true spirit of giving."
Tis the Season!! Remember that it's better to give than receive
so pass it on.

PRAYER IN TIME OF SUFFERING

Behold me, my beloved Jesus, weighed down under the burden of my trials and sufferings, I cast myself at Your feet, that You may renew my strength and my courage, while I rest here in Your Presence. Permit me to lay down my cross in Your Sacred Heart, for only Your infinite goodness can sustain me; only Your love can help me bear my cross; only Your powerful hand can lighten its weight. O Divine King, Jesus, whose heart is so compassionate to the afflicted, I wish to live in You; suffer and die in You. During my life be to me my model and my support. At the hour of my death, be my hope and my refuge. Amen.

The Letter

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it
up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope
again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address.
She read the letter:

Dear Ruth,
I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to
stop by for a visit.
Love Always,
Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would
the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to
offer."With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my
goodness, I really don't have anything to offer.I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner."She reached for her purse and counted out its contents.
Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least."
She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread,
a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total
of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she
headed home,her meager offerings tucked under her arm.

"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth had been so absorbed in her
dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A
man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags. "Look lady, I
ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the
street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and,
well, if you could help us, lady, we'd really appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and,
frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really
wanted to. "Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a
few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner
tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."

"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man put his
arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley. As
she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.
"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley
after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something
else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.

"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!" "Yes, thank you!" It was the
man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got
another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned
her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders.

Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the car ... without her coat
and with nothing to serve her guest. "Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The
Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. She fumbled
through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another
envelope in her mailbox "That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice
in one day." She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

Dear Ruth:

It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And
thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
Love Always

Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.

TWO BABES IN A MANGER
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department
of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in
the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses,
the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys
and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a
government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following
story in their own words:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear,
for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them
about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn,
they went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a
manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in
amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools,
trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children
many things to build their own manger.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to
see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table
where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had
finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was
startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called
for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the
manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed
manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For
such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related
the happenings accurately--until he came to the part where Mary put the
baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib.

He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid
the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place
to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have
any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told
him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody
else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about
what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept
him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep you
warm, will that be a good enough gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep
me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.' So I got into
the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with
him---for always."

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that
splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his
head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and
sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor
abuse him, someone who would stay with him - for ALWAYS.

I've learned that it's not WHAT you have in your life, but WHO you have
in your life that counts.

Dear Santa...

Snowflakes softly falling
Upon your window play,
Your blankets snug around you,
into sleep you drift away.

I bend to gently kiss you,
when I see that on the floor
There's a letter, neatly written
I wonder who it's for.

I quietly unfold it
making sure you're still asleep,
It's a Christmas list for Santa--
one my heart will always keep.

It started just as always
with the toys seen on TV,
A new watch for your father
and a winter coat for me.

But as my eyes read on
I could see that deep inside
There were many things you wished for
that your loving heart would hide.

You asked if your friend Molly
could have another dad;
It seems her father hits her
and it makes you very sad.
Then you asked dear Santa
if the neighbors down the street
Could find a job, that he might have
some food, and clothes, and heat.

You saw a family on the news
whose house had blown away;
"Dear Santa, send them just one thing:
a place where they can stay."


"And Santa, those four cookies that
I left you for a treat,
Could you take them to the children
who have nothing else to eat?"

"Do you know that little bear I have--
the one I love so dear?
I'm leaving it for you to take
to Africa this year."
"And as you fly your reindeer
on this night of Jesus'' birth,
Could your magic bring to everyone
goodwill and peace on earth?"

"There's one last thing before you go--
so grateful I would be--
If you'd smile at Baby Jesus
in the manger by our tree."

I pulled the letter close to me;
I felt it melt my heart.
Those tiny hands had written
what no other could impart.

"And a little child shall lead them,"
was whispered in my ear
As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve
while Santa Claus was here.