Christmas didn’t sneak up on us

Just a few days until Christmas, our news has to be in on Wednesday, Dec. 19. Also on this day school will get out for Christmas until January 3. Time really moves fast but we can’t say Christmas slipped up on us because it’s been the same time for 2000 years. I will say when I was a child it seemed like Christmas would never come and we really appreciated everything we got, which wasn’t much back then. We didn’t get something new every week like most kids do now. They never know when Christmas comes or how to appreciate it.

George, Millie and Amanda McNair joined other family members on Sunday at the home of Pattie Keener, George’s sister, in Acworth for Christmas.

Julie and Billy Phillips visited Alice Cheatham in Athens on Tuesday.

Margie Ward visited James Harold and Ellen Smith on Tuesday afternoon. Continue to pray for him as he recovers from surgery.

We have many on our prayer list. We would appreciate you joining us as we lift these friends and loved ones up in prayer knowing God hears our prayers and will answer them in His time and way; Ozell Moss, Florine Ward, Hattie Head, Mary Jo Collins, Paul Austin, Dot Stewart, James Harold Smith, Rev. Clyde Carter, Peggy Harper, Betty and Frank Bohannon, Julie and Billy Phillips, Charlie James and Mark Harville. Also be much in prayer for our nation, leaders and all our local leaders and all in authority.

Sunday morning, Dec. 30 we will have communion service at Brownwood and also a special observance for the year’s end, “God Has Been Good To Me.”
Sunday night, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m. we will have Fifth Sunday Night Singing.

As we begin a New Year soon it will be a good time for people in the Brownwood and surrounding area to start letting me have your news for your column. I want to say thank you to all who have already given me news and I hope you will continue to share your comings and goings in the New Year. There are people that look forward to reading the community columns in the Morgan County Citizen.

Twas The Night Before Christmas (Revised)

‘Twas 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 T.V. did they suddenly hear?
‘Cept an ad …which 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 til 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.
They never once prayed to Jesus
The 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!
Merry Christmas
To ALL My Friends!

Printed in the December 27, 2012 edition