Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The decorations were hung inside and out with care,
In hopes that everyone would be in awe and stare.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of high tech toys danced in their heads.
Mamma in her nightgown, and I in my cap,
Had just started to get the last of the presents wrapped.

When in the back of my mind there arose such a clatter,
mamma looked at me and asked what was the matter.
I know not why but I could see like a flash,
St Nicholas sitting in his chair, his hopes all turning to ash.

St. Nick had tried to help others as a great King had taught
But his teacher and the reasons all seemed to be lost.
No longer a time to help those in need,
but rater a season motivated solely by greed.

St. Nick looked at The Great King with his head held low,
he asked his Teacher how could they forget, has it been that long ago?
Does no one understand what I did was to serve You?
Not to show off, see what I could get, or who I could out do?

The Teacher responded, No it has not been that long ago,
But the people have created a message just for their ego.
Many claim to follow My way
but teach a message that has gone astray.

Many think they are following My word,
But have never really studied, only following what they have heard.
They blindly trust what the leaders preach,
But that is not how I asked them to learn or to teach.

St. Nick looked at The King with a sorrowful gaze,
Is there nothing we can do? He asked in a tearful daze.
Alas, spoke The King, the choice is theirs,
To climb up or go down the stairs.

Most have become content following the downward path,
They take the easier course though it will lead to their death.
Many choose the direction saying My Way is too hard,
But they have never really tried; it is just what they heard.

The flash I saw, left as fast as it came,
I looked around and everything was still the same.
There were still liars and thieves, wars, famine and drought
corruption of all kinds, some legal some not.

Mamma looked at me saying, as she kept wrapping gifts,
'The kids will be up soon, We do not have time for this.'
I couldn't help but wonder as I put the gifts away
If perhaps we have really lost our way.

St Nicholas and Jesus
They tried to teach us so much.
But even their simplest lesson
Few seem to remember and rarely does anyone listen.

This is a time that is suppose to be filled with love and joy
Yet many stress and fight over nothing more than a toy.
Every year we say the words,
but their meaning seems to be vanishing as time marches forwards.

Words about a way of life all but forgotten, lost over time by most men and women. . .

Glory to God in the highest, on Earth Peace, good will toward men.