A True Christmas Story

I was born the fourth child in a family of nine.
Papa worked hard to raise us kids, good and bad were the times.
Papa was a holy man, who knew the Bible well.
He taught us all to love the Lord and hate the road to hell.

Back in the year of '54, at almost Christmas time,
Papa came home one day from work, low, with a troubled mind.
"They've laid me off", he said to Mama, "and there's no more work in sight.
I guess Santa won't be coming here Christmas Eve night."

So, there we were, two weeks away from the time we all looked for,
A bunch of little saddened faces, walking 'round the floor.
Then, Papa said, "Come on, cheer up!  Put a smile on your face.
Let's don't forget our Maker.  He'll help us if we pray."

So, Sunday morning, we all took off up the mountainside,
Where Papa had prayed so many times, and sometimes came and cried.
At the top, there stood an old oak tree, where we all knelt down,
Papa and Mama and all their kids gathered around.

The youngest said his little prayer and, then, on up the line.
Each were earnest thankful pleas for joy this Christmas time.
"Please don't let Santa miss our House," and then each prayer would end:
"And Happy Birthday to Jesus, Happy Birthday, Amen."

Monday morning, a neighbor came with a gallon jar of milk,
And asked if we would keep his cow, while he went on a trip.
As the neighbor went, he left us a card of Christmas cheer
And, in the card, there lay a note and a twenty dollar bill.

Mama read the note to us as tears came to her eyes,
"Every year at Christmas time, we pray, my wife and I,
And ask the Lord to show us someone to give this to.
You were the first to come in mind, so we're giving it to you."

Papa smiled and said, "You see, God hears us when we pray.
Where there's a prayer, there's a will;  where there's a will, there's a way."
Well, Someone must have heard the prayers of us kids on that mountain top,
'Cause the very next day, Dad's bossman called and said he had him a job.

And you can bet on Christmas Eve, Ole' Santa came our way.
Why, we were the happiest kids on earth that Christmas Day!
We gathered 'round the Christmas tree and thanked the Lord above
For sending us a Santa and a Jesus Child to love.

The youngest said his little prayer and then on up the line,
Each were earnest thankful prayers for the joy this Christmas time.
We thanked Him for sending Santa, and then each prayer would end,
"And Happy Birthday to Jesus, Happy Birthday, Amen."

Written by:  Martha Reece Hall 1974
(c) 1986