Our Gift this Year

(update- picture added)

Our Gift this Year

(adapted from a poem by Anonymous)

Our son’s presence won’t be felt

Around our house this year.

He won’t be watching for Santa

Or listening for reindeer.

Because our boy is now an elder

Still the youngest of the clan

But he’s doing something different,

Turning from boy to man.

His presents are white shirts, some snacks

Pens and stuff. . . no fun.

Yes, this year it will be different

Cause we’ve given Christ our son.

We’ve spent more time on our knees

Felt strength coming from His words.

We’ve read the scriptures more frequently

And our testimonies stirred.

As his parents we pray more often.

Our tears are quick to run.

HeavenAbraham seems much closer because

This year we’ve given Christ our son.

We wonder how those Lamanite mothers

Gave their sons to war.

Or how the pioneers chose Zion.

Their sacrifice was so much more.

Our loss will be His presence

But we miss our boy’s smile a ton.

For two years we will pray for him

We’ve given Christ our son.

We recall his face when he was young.

We memorized his eyes, their shine.

He always hungered for the part of him

That makes his soul divine.

The stories and lessons he always heard

His choice and ours are one.

We put our trust in God's hand this year.

We’ve given Him our son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter

We think we finally understand.

Christ's birth should be celebrated

By giving Him a hand.

It's because we know Christ lives and reigns

That we’re not coming all undone.

Our gift has taken years to make.

This year we’ve given Christ our son.