T’was the night before Christmas when all the last minute shoppers were in a panic. The traffic was congested. The stores had sold out of the most desired items. Still a peaceful look back to well over a century ago brought a us a poem.

Now is the time to put away those plastic debit cards. Now is the time forget running to Target for one more item. Now is the time to enjoy what is really important in life.

Every time I read Twas the Night Before Christmas I get carried back to a much simpler time. This poem takes us back to a much simpler time. A time where Christmas shopping is over. Children are waiting in their beds for Christmas morning and the opening of presents.

My Christmas present to all of you on this night before Christmas is the poem below. May all of you and your have a very blessed and merry Christmas.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

It is Christmas Eve. The sales will soon be over.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ, but behind it is a even more deeper truth.

It is time to bring family and friends close. Help those in need, and forgive those who we think have wronged us.  It is time to remember what is at the root of the Christmas.

We need to love those around us the way we want God to love us.

When it is all said and done, how we treat those around us reflects our relation with God, with the force, with the natural order of life, or as some would like to call it celestial harmony.

Next week I will have a couple posts on identity theft, and computer security.

For now, may you have a safe and Happy and Merry Christmas.

Happy Holidays