Cousin Rufus's Christmas Wish

Dear Cousin Cletus,

Well, this is it—Christmas in just four more days. ‘Member when we wuz kids and couldn’t hardly wait to get somethin’ in our stockin’ we hung by the fahrplace? We thought it wuz wunnerful to git a orange and a candy cane.

This y’ar may be a little diff’rent for y’all in the big city. Ah hear folks is supposed to stay home more.

Since we got us a little snow, ah got more time to set indoors and think. Mah old hound, Bozo likes to git real close to the fahrplace and warm his bones. It don’t feel too bad to this old mountain man, neither.

Last night ah wuz sittin’ by the fahr, thinkin’ ‘bout how this Christmas is gonna be diff’rent for so many. Some lost loved ones. Some cain’t git in to hospitals and nursin’ homes to visit they kinfolk. Some is afeared to go where they’s a lot of people. So it’s gonna be a lonely time.

Then ah thought, “Whut if Jesus came to visit in person this year? Wouldn’t that be somethin’!” So ah went an’ dug out a poem the preacher’s wife wrote fer our Christmas program onct. Here’s what it said.

If Jesus Came at Christmas

If Jesus came to your house to spend Christmastime with you,

If He came without warning, whatever would you do?

Oh, I know you’d gasp in real surprise and welcome Him with glee,

And give Him your nicest things to make His stay complete.

And when you saw Him coming, would you show Him lights that gleam,

Or send your spouse out to the garage to find the manger scene?

Would you change the music you play that day? Toss out Rudolph and his kin?

And scurry to find the book of sacred Christmas hymns?

Would you excuse yourself, go change your clothes, dust the Bible on the shelf?

Wish you could hide the statue of Santa and his jolly little elf?

Would the children share their nicest toys or hope He wouldn’t ask?

Would you still break out the fake champagne as you did the Christmas last?

Would your family conversations keep up their normal pace?

Would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?

Would you take Jesus everywhere you planned to go,

Or maybe would you change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad for Him to meet your closest friends

Or hope they’d stay away until Christmas ends?

Would you be glad to have him stay forever on and on?

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do

If Jesus came in person to spend Christmastime with you.

Thet’s a good thought, Cletus. Some folks cain’t get together, but if they invited Jesus to attend their Christmas, ah think he’d be right glad to let ‘em feel his presence. Mebbe ah’l set a extra chair at the table in his honor Christmas day, just to let him know he’s welcome in mah little cabin.

Merry Christmas, Cletus.

Your cuz,

Rufus

What about you? Any thoughts about how your Christmas may be different this year? Join the conversation below.