Bringing a Family Together
When their very young dad went to jail,
they surely lived in a realistic Hell...
I would hear the youngest one cry over an article she read.
Who had taken her daddy away was too cruel;
nothing they said would make her understand,
why didn't the harsh judge break some rule?
The judge's sentence was based on actual fact,
no pleads from the children softened her hard heart as she read the sentence,
" He committed this crime to feed his family so ashamed of his act,
and even dragged his younger brother along to help him steal by cutting fences. "
Then she made an eye-opening statement, " I must abide by the Law,
I am a judge of justice and fairness...not much I can do in this case;
let him behave and his sentence will be reduced in ten years. "
Everyone in the courtroom started to sob...tears began to flow.
I visited them often, and they seemed different people who couldn't admit
what he did was wrong, assuming he was innocent;
their smiles became cheerless, their words loveless:
a part of them was taken away, lost to hopelessness...
the younger daughter locked herself into her room,
refused to talk to anyone and building that wall deepened her gloom.
Even this year they will not celebrate Christmas with the old thrill,
shopping for presents in crowded malls has lost that excited will,
not even the merriest Santa can make them smile with a jingle bell;
and he must think that they are strange kids who don't love the Holidays,
perhaps reading them the Nativity Story will change their moody ways...
and to bring this family together will take patience and lots of prayers.
How would I ask Jesus, the new-born, who would love to see these kids at midnight?
They must show love to make this miracle happen on Christmas Eve; it has to start
with a heartfelt wish and deep faith, then the Heavens will suddenly open up...
as angels will descend to sing the hymn they sang before they desperately wept.
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