Home for Christmas

Home for Christmas

There is an empty chair in the parlor
An empty bed in the guest room
There is an empty plate on the table
An empty place in the heart.

Still can be heard the sound
Of childish laughter
Still the unmistakable muffled sound
Of childish tears.

There was love in this house
Love in every pore
And God was in this house
Morning, noon, and night.

The house is quiet now
The children grown and far away
The letters, oh, the letters are so few
And the telephone's so still.*

But listen, Father;
Could that be a car in the driveway?
Voice, such familiar voices. . .

The children! Oh, Mother!
The children --- all the children --- have come home.

Joseph Leininger Wheeler

*But thankfully, at our house the text messages, instant messages, and emails abound!

* * *

Blessed Christmas Eve to you and yours! Happy Birthday to Jesus!