"Christmas Without Father"

There's presents for Father
under the Christmas tree,
it's quiet this morning
as if everyone's asleep.
Nothing is stirring
not even the brown mouse,
a hush has fallen
over the entire house.

Mother wakes up first
and goes to the kitchen table,
where she cries for daddy
and wonders if she's able,
to go on this Christmas day
seeing his now empty chair,
as us children stir from bed
she straightens herself up fair.

We run into the living room
where all the presents set,
and as we reach for the gifts
she stops us, "no, not yet";
she bows her head solemnly
and we follow her lead and care,
as she softly whispers
this new Christmas prayer.

"Heavenly father, be with us,
in this our hour of grief,
take our husband and daddy
into your love and relief;
and let us always remember
loved ones in a special way,
not only at this time of loss
but on every single day."

Then the Christmas bells ring loud
from the church on the hill,
we look at each other and smile
knowing it is our Lord's will,
telling us it's okay to go on,
he's in a better place at last,
We'll never have Christmas without Father
if we hold on to memories past.