No Christmas Tree

 

No Christmas tree

Not enough to eat

Worrying about

How to pay the rent

No work in sight

Bills coming in

And how to make Christmas happy

For the children

 

The sirens sound again

We huddle in a cellar

School lessons held underground

The sound of war

Over our heads

Wondering if

Our homes will still be there.

Praying that

In the cold of winter

The power will stay on.

 

Behind bars

My body wracked with pain

Mocked by those around me

For loving You Jesus.

 

Is he alive or dead?

We don’t know

In a faraway prison

For preaching the gospel

Our breadwinner is gone

And we get by

On handouts from those who will share.

 

Lord Jesus, we know that this is not the end

Just as You suffered, You died

And that was not the end,

For You rose in Your glory, and reign.

Hope of the world, lover of the poor,

Light of the world, shine.

And may those who love You

Be Your hands and feet this Christmas.

 

© Josephine Collett 23/12/2022

 

(Author's note: the conditions in verse 2 are taken directly from a pastoral report from the Ukraine.)