FINDING JESUS

mark mabry artwork

after my experience trying to find

anything resembling JESUS,

i thought i would keep my eyes peeled

to see if JESUS  truly was central

to the celebration of his birth.

i miss the days

when a large NATIVITY

was in the center of town

at the public library...

when bulletin boards

and CHRISTMAS

 programs at school

allowed songs like

“silent night”

“away in a manger”

and “joy to the world”

i miss the carefree days

of being able to

say MERRY CHRISTMAS

without the fear and worry of someone

being offended.

i heard that one school

was asked to cancel 

the “angel tree”

and “sub for santa”

because it was an

act of christianity.

too bad for the family

that may have been filled with joy

and hope

the belief in miracles

at a time of their misfortune.

too bad for the givers

that may have learned gratitiude

as well as 

been filled with the 

unmeasured happiness

and love

that comes as the rich rewards of 

true charity.


really.
being kind

compassionate

forgiving

loving

are all acts of christianity.

should we eliminate those traits

and qualities?

mmm.

where andwhat would that leave 

for humanity?

in complete and utter evil circumstances.

on friday the 13th day of december

another school shooting.

then
while watching 
FOX
i saw this
segment of a billboard
from atheist.org
which cut to my core

i need CHRIST
at 
CHRISTMAS
and every single moment
in between
and i am
SOMEBODY

i am not jewish,

but i do not mind

wishing 

HAPPY HANUKKAH

learning about the culture

and festive traditions

marveling in the menorah

singing “how many nights”

and playing dreidel.

in one of the language arts classes
students had the joys
of learning about 
festivities,
customs,
traditions,
of our brothers
and sisters
around the world.

we wouldn't dream of trying
to rewrite or cancel
the celebrations
dear to their
hearts

so please
i beg,
stop attacking
CHRISTmas.
without
CHRIST in my
CHRISTMAS,
it would be just plain old
MAS
and that would be
just plain old dumb
and 
plain old boring.

i do not expect

everyone to celebrate and believe

as i believe

i just wish that others

would be courteous enough

and allow me to acknowledge 

december 25, 

 CHRISTMAS on my calendar

and not just a winter holiday...

it is more 

oh so much more

it is CHRISTMAS

it is a celebration of JESUS Birth

i will rejoice and pay homage to Him

and i will declare

MERRY CHRISTMAS