Jenny loved Christmas. She loved it because everyone around her made it special. Her grandparents, her great Aunt Jackie, her aunts, and especially me. She loved our Christmas decorations. She loved everything about that special time of year.
Once, when her dad and I had a holiday work function and she and her brother were old enough to stay home, they got into the Christmas boxes I brought up from the basement. While we were gone, they set to work. It was a particularly stressful time for her dad at work and she knew he was feeling low. When we arrived home, we walked into a Christmas wonderland. The house was dark except for Christmas lights and candles. Christmas music was playing on the stereo. What a way to lighten the heart. They were proud and so excited for us to view their surprise. I’ll never forget that night.
When her first Christmas in heaven came around and I knew she would be missing all the festivities, I could hardly withstand the pain. There would be no parties for her. There would be no special Christmas Eve or day with her family. Her gifts would be missing under the tree. She would never have a Christmas again. Was the birth of Jesus celebrated in heaven? Would she have a different kind of Christmas?
What could I give Jenny? I thought about many things, and I did make a donation to MADD. I would hang her stocking and put a yellow rose in it. It didn’t seem like enough. I remembered when I wrote a song to put in her casket. So, one night as her dad lay curled up on the couch next to me, and I looked at our sparsely decorated small tree, I thought about what a Christmas in heaven might be like. This was her Christmas gift in 1994. It’s still in a Christmas card in her stocking.
Christmas in Heaven
Lights of red and blue and green shine from our Christmas trees.
Our houses sparkle in the night, the passerby to please.
We shine a light on Baby Jesus in our mangers bright.
Could you imagine heaven’s glow, the brightest light this night?
Our choirs sing glad tidings of peace and harmony.
Everywhere the Christmas carols sound so joyfully.
The sweetest sound that you could hear sings of heaven’s love.
Could you imagine angel choirs singing up above?
At Christmas time our lights shine bright, but not as bright as heaven.
We let our gladsome tidings ring, but what if we heard angels sing?
Gifts to receive and gifts to give, but we’ve the gift that heaven is.
The season fills our hearts with love again.
But could you imagine Christmas in heaven?
Presents wrapped in colors bright around the Christmas tree.
Children waiting patiently, their hearts so filled with glee.
But as they grow, they’ll learn to know the greatest gift that’s given.
Could you imagine celebrating our Lord’s birth in heaven?
Love grows all around us this favorite time of year.
The smallest act of kindness can dry the largest tear.
There is no love on earth to match the love from up above.
Can you imagine ever feeling heaven’s kind of love?
At Christmas time our lights shine bright, but not as bright as heaven.
We let our gladsome tidings ring, but what if we heard angels sing?
Gifts to receive and gifts to give, but we’ve the gift that heaven is.
The season fills our hearts with love again,
but could you imagine Christmas in heaven?
The season fills our hearts with love again.
Someday I’ll be with you for Christmas in heaven.
