Christmas Day

Praise the LORD!
   Praise the LORD, O my soul!
I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals,
    in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs,
       they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the LORD their God,
who made heaven and earth,
        the sea, and all that is in them;
    who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
    the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the strangers;
        he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion,
    for all generations.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 146)

        Godman

late last night,
           while we were
                 wrapping presents
                 and putting together toys
             (too distracted to notice),
        you put glory's garment
                            in the closet,
            and came
                    to be wrapped,
                 not in silver foil
                 with a big red bow,
                                   but in the bands
                                   of our lives;

            coming
to keep an eye on all
                            we overlook;
             coming
to put back on their feet all
                             we knock over;
             coming
to open our hearts to all
                              we refuse to love;
             coming
to make a home for all
                              we have cast aside;
             coming
to keep faith with all
                              who have forgotten how;

             coming

againandagainandagainandagain

© 2012 Thom M. Shuman