Are you "Ready for Christmas?"

As we get closer and closer

to December 25th

we're going to hear

the question again and again.

Are you "Ready for Christmas?"

But - what does,

"Ready for Christmas"

really mean?

To many it means,

Have you got your shopping done?

Gifts wrapped? Stockings hung?

But - to the author of this poem

I think it meant something 

else entirely.

Ready for Christmas

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh

As she gave the last touch to the gifts piled high...

Then wearily sat for a moment and read

Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
 

Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,

"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
 

She woke with a start and a cry of despair.

There's so little time, and I've still to prepare.
 

Oh, Father, forgive me, I see what you mean!

Yes, more than giving of gifts and a tree,

It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
 

A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.

So ready for Christmas.... and ready for Him.

Author Unknown