I listened to someone read this lovely poem titled Abiding Gifts last week, She told me her aunt wrote it many, many years before. It made me sit up straight and listen harder so I could hear it.

It was in a small paper book filled with poems written my women of the same congregation. I feel blessed that I can share it with you.

Abiding Gifts

By Rebecca Doughtery Hyatt

Please bring for me this Christmastide
Such gifts that will with me abide.
I sorely need each priceless thing
That I am asking you to bring.
A Christmas tree – the same bright Star
That shines o’er Bethlehem’s fields afar.
So by that Star’s unwavering light.
I’ll follow there on Christmas night.

And may I find beneath that tree
A present marked  – Humility,
And leave there please a cloak for me
Which plainly says for – Charity.
I need Tolerance –and could use
a large package — And if you choose,
I want a magic wand  with which to find
Faith renewed in all mankind.

Bring Understanding, so that each day
Friendships are strengthened on the way.
With other things – I make this plea-
Bring boundless gifts of Sympathy.
Some kindness please, there’s never enough –
A world to soften at its touch.

Make these gifts attractive and apart
Each will be taken to my heart.
Come down my chimney with your pack
Of Peace and Goodwill upon your back;
Please add a stocking filled with Cheer
For useful days through all the year.
Bring these for me to scatter wide
Across the land this Christmastide.

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