"Can't Be Sad"

I can’t be sad this Christmas,

‘Cause I’m thankful for my health,

And, yes, I’ve had some mishaps,

But alive and well is wealth.

I’ve got an F-250 pickup,

With a quarter million miles,

But it still cranks and gets me there,

So I thank the Lord with smiles.

We’re living in an RV,

While we’re building a new house,

And though it has no storage,

We’re as snug as any mouse.

The acreage that we live on,

No cowboy it has seen,

So it’s taken time and effort,

To get it clear and clean.

We grill a steak on weekends,

Sometimes go out to eat,

We really have good Tex-Mex,

And, man, it’s hard to beat.

Our horsed, cattle, chickens,

Are plenty well-fed, too,

Some folks are hungry, homeless,

And we’re better off, it’s true.

And, yes, I miss my kinfolk,

Already dead and gone,

One day again I’ll see them,

God knows just how long.

I miss brother, kids, and grand-kids,

But they are doing well,

I am so thankful for them,

And gladly I can tell,

That they’ve received God’s blessing,

And though we’re far apart,

I will always hold them,

Closely to my heart.

I’m happy here in Texas,

With this beauty whom I love,

No doubt the Good Lord sent her,

Best blessing from above.

So I can’t be sad this Christmas,

Thought sadness might creep in,

But joy wins every battle,

So let Christmas praise begin.

“‘For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’” (Luke 2:11-14, NAS)

When the angels announced to the shepherds the birth of Jesus there is no doubt they were shocked and afraid. But they were also caught up in the joy of the moment. Whether our lives are overflowing with blessing or we’re just trying to make it through December, when Jesus is introduced into the mix everything shifts. We become thankful for what we have and are less overwhelmed by what we lack. With Jesus we get what really matters, and our joy is based on the reality of knowing Him, not the uncertainty of circumstances. Praise is the order of the day, at Christmas and always.

Lord, teach us to count our blessing this Christmas, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Jack Sorenson, used by permission. Thanks, Jack, and God bless you.