T'was the Night Before ... Ch...anukah?

T'was the night before Christmas, and Chanukah too - Day Five!

And so down at the Synagogue things are coming alive!

The Family Chanukiah's will be kindled with care,

To celebrate the victory, a "great miracle happened there"!

Later, back at Duncanshire all beings will be hopping,

all cooking and preparing, and last minute crazy shopping.

For we must be at the shelter, by a quarter past four,

yes, A.M., so the folks there can have breakfast once more!

It's been our beloved tradition now for many a year,

To help us find true meaning in this paganistic gear!

In honor of the Real Son whom some worship on this day,

It was a mikvah we could do to help us follow in His way!

You see, you won't find jelly doughnuts in the Torah, or a game,

that quite resembles gambling, I must say, if its all the same.

There is pagan, fleshly, manmade stuff, that creeps in on its own,

even in G-d's Moedim that we are clearly shown!

As Chanukah is "optional" for those who "only Torah" observe,

though "Yeshua celebrated that at least!", still, you guys have some nerve,

to judge the other members of His body, for their way

of honoring His coming, though someone did choose the horrid day!

Still, despite the cunning evil of the enemy's intent,

many righteous souls do truly cherish our Messiah's advent!

Many truly hear His heart, and truly lift Him up, you see.

For He's theOne worth celebrating, and His eternal victory!

So we celebrate the miracle of Judah Macabee,

beneath the dimmly lighted glow of our little Christmas tree.

To which we've never bowed in worship, it only holds for us,

the meaning of this season, and it isn't worth all this fuss!

It is only a decoration, like the Chanukah display,

or like the harvest emblems I put out in autumn, the same way.

We do not worship our small pilgrims we set out at each Thanksgiving,

they are but a small reminder of those who established our free living.

So chill out all believers, please just follow your own hearts,

leave the judging to our Elohim, and we'll not have to part.

For I was not brought up Jewish, but I serve a Jewish Lord,

who is faithful to instruct me by His Ruach, in Word!

He has brought me on a journey, and I have not reached the end,

by the time the journey's over I may pitch trappings that offend.

But I can not be led around you see, by the opinions of mere men,

I have learned who I must please, and I answer just to Him.

I've weeded and corrected to get down to what would please,

the risen Lord of Glory, to whom we bow our knees!

Not the "baby in the manger", not his cross and not his mother,

He, alone is King of Glory, and there is not any other!

So settle down my brothers, take it easy, take a rest!

G-d will teach His children how to love Him, as to Him it does seem best.

He gently will correct us, when we've been led astray,

He tenderly, though firmly, will instruct us in His way!

But if we would find the center of the path you seem to know,

love, not bitter criticism, will entreat us all to go,

that path you securely travel, but we won't come while you're throwing stones!

We have gotten enough gravel from the ones who were our own!

Let's resist that war this season, let us learn the truest heart,

that the "Reason for the Season, should not pull us all apart.

True, He's called "the stumbling stone", for those who simply won't believe.

But He also is the mortar to join as one, all who receive!

Hene Mah Tov, Umah naim, Chevet achim gam Yachad,

In unity we'll win again, in division we'll be sh'much-ad!

So Shalom, Shalom!, this "holiday", be it Christmas, or Chanukah,

Let's rest in His abiding Love, and all his own be "One-i-cah"!

Shalom and Selah,

SCD 12/23/11