Abby, Dabby, and Labby woke early on Christmas morning
Quietly, they tiptoed past their father\u2019s loud snoring
In the living room stood the Christmas tree, bright and tall
But what they saw was not the tree, oh, not at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This silent green giant held a secret in its boughs
Yet the shining presents their attention did arouse
Untold goodness wrapped in red, gold, and green
Joy and happiness waiting to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How could they wait
With something so good at stake?
\u201cWake Mama and Papa!\u201d Labby cried
But the other girls just stared with eyes wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just then, a familiar sound they heard
It uttered not a single word
But they knew from the noise
Santa was coming with even more toys!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The jingle of bells echoed throughout
He was coming in his sleigh, no doubt
Then, suddenly, with a giant boom
Santa appeared in that very room!
A bushy white beard and big red hat
He walked to the couch and there he sat!
Come, my dear girls, and sit with me
I\u2019ll tell you the story of the Christmas tree!
These branches have something to say
They remind us that Jesus was born this day
Listen carefully, and I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll see
Something important in this tree
Take a look at its branches, so green
Beautiful boughs full and pristine.
These branches never wither or turn brown
Even in winter, its needles don\u2019t fall down.
This evergreen is alive when everything is dead
Reminding us of what Jesus said
\u201cWhoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live!\u201d
The truest gift is life, which only Jesus can give.
Its powerful frame of wood is made
Just like the place where our sins were paid
Jesus\u2019 body was hung on a cross of wood
He suffered and died even though he was good
We decorate this tree with lights for a reason
Because Jesus came to us in a dark season
Just as the tree gives light to this space
So Jesus brings us the light of his grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dear girls, I want you to know
There\u2019s something greater than the presents below
The Christmas tree tells the most important story
How Christ came to live and die for God\u2019s glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Toys and gifts are a nice way
That we can show love for each other today
But far greater is the gift Jesus gave
When he died on the cross and rose from the grave.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Abby, Dabby, and Labby woke early on Christmas morning
Quietly, they tiptoed past their father\u2019s loud snoring
In the living room stood the Christmas tree,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31],"tags":[59,250],"class_list":["post-28420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing","tag-christmas","tag-poetry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/604759098_10164453700629809_6074044429133929318_n.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3izZc-7oo","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1839,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/where-does-that-christmas-feeling-come-from\/","url_meta":{"origin":28420,"position":0},"title":"Where Does that Christmas Feeling Come From?","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I write this as I am siting in front of a Christmas tree decorated with lights and shiny red and gold balls, out the window I can see snow softly\u00a0falling\u00a0and Christmas music is playing in the background. It all feels pretty Christmasy. But where does that feeling really come from?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2023,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/why-we-celebrate-christmas-on-january-7th\/","url_meta":{"origin":28420,"position":1},"title":"Why We Celebrate Christmas on January 7th","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"January 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm still surprised by how many people don't know that December 25th is not Christmas in Ukraine! When I tell them that we celebrate on January 7th the usual response I get is, \"Oh,\u00a0so two weeks later?!\" Then I say, \"No, we celebrate 50 weeks earlier than the West!\" That's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/family\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC02165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC02165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC02165.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1665,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/benefits-of-celebrating-christmas-2-weeks-late\/","url_meta":{"origin":28420,"position":2},"title":"The Benefits of Celebrating Christmas 2 Weeks Late","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"January 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"If you already took your Christmas tree down then today would be a great day to grab it out of the trash and put it back where it belongs! Just because December 25th is now 2 weeks behind us doesn't mean that Christmas is over, especially if you're \u00a0from Ukraine.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/soldiers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/soldiers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/soldiers.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4820,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/merry-christmas-dear-friend\/","url_meta":{"origin":28420,"position":3},"title":"Merry Christmas Dear Friend","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 25, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Friend, I arose while it was still dark this Christmas morning, Made my way past the children who were still soundly\u00a0snoring, Sat down on the couch and looked at the tree. It was quiet and peaceful as far as I could see. But then I remembered the news of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/family\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/DSC01609.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/DSC01609.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/DSC01609.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3484,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/revolution-and-revival-ukraine-in-turmoil-podcast\/","url_meta":{"origin":28420,"position":4},"title":"#19 Revolution and Revival, Ukraine in Turmoil -Podcast","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Ukraine is in turmoil! In the last few weeks the world's eye has been on Kiev and the clashes between protesters and riot police. In this episode of\u00a0Now is the Time\u00a0I describe for you the scene as I experienced it earlier this week walking around downtown Kiev. You can now\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Gospel Today"","block_context":{"text":"The Gospel Today","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/berkut.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/berkut.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/berkut.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1916,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/so-how-was-your-christmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":28420,"position":5},"title":"So How was Your Christmas?","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Christmas is over, at least in the West. The day after Christmas shouldn't be a downer. It should be just as joyful as the day before Christmas! The Messiah has come, he is here, our God is with us, Emmanuel! One thing we really like about living in Ukraine is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/family\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/DSC01796.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/DSC01796.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/DSC01796.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28420"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28431,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28420\/revisions\/28431"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}