Still Believing

Twas the night before Christmas,
We flew in from Texas.
The house was still dark
No one expected us.
 
We unloaded our bags
Near the Christmas tree.
Started a fire,
And waited for family.
 
Smiles lit up our faces
When we saw our stockings hung.
Names on each one,
Loaded with all sorts of fun.
 
All of a sudden
We saw the bright lights
Of several cars pulling in
The drive for the night.
 
As they walked in the door,
We hid in our places,
Giddy as gumdrops,
To see the look on their faces.
 
It was our nieces and nephew
Who saw us hiding first.
Running over in excitement,
They were ready to burst!
 
Lots of hugs and kisses
Led others to see
What was going on
Underneath the Christmas tree!
 
“Now Andy! Now Sarah!
Now Brode, you’re here!
How in the world
Did you manage this year?”
 
With everyone sitting
Near the fireplace with glee,
We eagerly told them
How it happened to be.
 
More hugs and kisses
Went round and round
When all of a sudden
We heard a loud sound.
 
Away to the windows,
We rushed over to see
A moonlit shadow.
Could it be? 

Santa's red sleigh
No, it couldn’t be so.
But there it was with
Rudolph’s shiny red nose!
 
Astonished and amazed,
Adults still scratching heads.
The children all smiling,
Headed off for their beds!
 
After tucking each child
Into their beds that night,
We raced back downstairs
To see a great sight!
 
The living room was filled
With a bag full of toys
Something for all ages,
For every girl and boy.
 
It was then that we noticed
A twinkle in each eye
Of every adult
In the living room that night.
 
After all those years
We chose not to believe
It took a childlike faith
To finally see.
 
St. Nick was real
For we each saw him that night
As he got in his sleigh
And flew out of sight.
 
No one ever questioned it,
Not a single one.
We, too, went to bed,
Full of satisfaction.
 
The last thing we heard
As we shut out the lights,
Was “Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a goodnight!”
 
Written by: Sarah Shanle