First Perspective:

It was the day after Christmas, and on the floor were paper wrappings galore

That the gifts and presents were given in the day before.

Nestled under the tree for all to see, perfection is what this has got to be.

Holidays are about presents and stuff for free.

You know it’s a myth, time to be merry.

Stress on the shoulders, I do carry.

Rush to the stores to get the deals,

Stuff is so important, let’s miss family meals.

Now our holidays are smooth as ice.

Perfection is all that will suffice.

Perfection is the goal, wrapped is the perfect bow.

No one can set the bar so low.

Stuff is what makes people happy, so we need more.

More than before, it’s time to go back to the store.

Go get the present you really want.

Those after-Christmas sales taunt,

you out away from family and friends.

Holidays have their ends.

Why do we receive

Gifts on Christmas Eve?

Naughty? Nice? Did you have a vice?

Are the presents for the ones whose hearts are as cold as ice?

If you are awful, do you get rewarded?

Who’s the one that gets this debt sorted?

Santa comes to you and gives,

or because Christ lives?

No. Can’t be. Christmas is all about me.

Can’t you see, all the stuff? Gee.

Disappointment is not allowed.

The perfect Christmas is a right that is endowed.

Bright smiles and a sea of gifts that last for miles,

the perfect gifts with whistles, bright colors and dials.

All for me because I deserve it,

because of the awesomeness I emit.

Tis the season to be happy…

then why do I feel empty inside?

When I go to the grave my stuff will bide.

But, Christmas must be immaculate,

Get everything you wanted and the whole bit,

this junk should bring me bliss.

Picture perfect like a kiss.

But the tree fades.

Things do not grant happiness, it only aids,

where is my happiness?

I deserve it!

Second Perspective:

This verse may not have a perfect rhyme.

The most valuable thing at Christmas is time.

Happiness does not come from a store,

with stuff and things we only will ever want more.

The message is clear,

as the end of the season draws near.

All the time and energy spent toward making the holiday special;

let me send you a question by vessel.

What is the best memory of Christmas?*

My bet is that the memory you shared is not a thing or a toy.

It was probably a smile of a girl or boy.

Time to grow up and realize that smooth and shiny surfaces do not make happy.

Joy is sticky and snappy like a piece of boardwalk taffy.

Joy is not an emotion like the momentary,

happiness that make us, “merry.”

The emptiness cannot be filled with gin,

dents and bruises do not ruin.

The walk of life is not without stumble,

the ground will rumble, to keep us humble,

press on and keep walking.

No more time balking.

Waiting for perfection is like looking for rain, in the desert.

It’s a good idea to look for a spurt

of water but will never happen.

Let reality tap in.

Hope can be a tool,

but only a fool

would go to the desert to look for rain.

They will only find pain.

We all want a perfect life,

the perfect job and the perfect husband or wife.

Do you deserve it?**

Ponder that and rub your chin,

Know the joy must come from within.

Dents and cracks make us who we are,

you are a star.

What? Cracks do not do well?

What about the Liberty Bell?

We are human,

we are cracked, dented, beaten and bruised;

from time to time we lose.

We are not built for normality.

Make the choice to be joyful, no one is worthless.

Realize that joy comes from above,

Because what makes the holidays special… is love.

*I challenged you, so it is only fair that I comply. This is my favorite Christmas photo. As you can see this is not a "perfect" picture. This is a train wreck and yet my family loves it because it is our train wreck. Gifts are nice, but they do not provide the lasting happiness most people claim they want. If we really wanted the happiness we speak of, then we are looking in the wrong places.The joy we (my family) receive from this photo is never-ending. Everyone looks bad (accept maybe my older brother). My parents have officially snapped at four kids, good thing they had two more. This memory and this photo will always bring a smile, I cannot tell you what presents I received that Christmas. I'm sure it was great and perfect but this photo is what I remember. The things I miss at the holiday are not the items on my list that were not under the tree; it is my Grandmother. Her last Christmas was about three years ago. I remember how she was always about taking pictures. To avoid the camera I would duck under tables. Her response was to wait at the table because I eventually had to come up.

** Do we deserve happiness? Of course. But happiness starts with you. We get a perfect life, a perfectly broken (train wreck) of a life.

I hope you had a Joyful Holiday!

Merry Christmas