Our elf on the shelf is missing

Last seen on a frozen lake fishing

Maybe he fell in, but I suspect foul play

As a matter of fact, it was just the other day

Our teenager, the suspect, said she no longer believed

At first, I have to admit, I was quite relieved

No more candy wrappers to clean up

No more messes, no more spilled cups

No more having to re-roll the toilet paper

No more misadventure superhero capers

No more Christmas lights to untangle

No more worries he would end up mangled

Then it hit me, she no longer believed

My heart shrunk three sizes as I grieved

Not only had the elf on the shelf disappeared

But she no longer believed in the man with a beard

Would Christmas ever be the same?

Instead of snow, would it always rain?

But then, from upstairs, from my teenager’s room

It started off faint but I knew it was a familiar tune

My ears heard such a wonderful sound

She was singing Santa Claus is coming to town

Then she jumped into Frosty the Snowman

When she finished I held my wife’s hand

Christmas isn’t about Santa or an elf on a shelf

Christmas is about family and about something else

As she started to sing Silent Night

A terrible thing I suddenly realized

That as we looked for the elf all around

Nowhere in our house was Jesus to be found

Jesus was also missing, completely gone

An ancient star the wise men looked upon

A manger for there was no room at the inn

God came to earth to take away our sins

Then a thought went from my heart to my head

I remembered words I long ago had read

Today in the town of David a Savior is born

Born to die, our savior, our Lord

My heart grew three sizes as I remembered the true meaning

I was suddenly okay with Santa and the elf on the shelf leaving

Where’s The Line To See Jesus by Becky Kelley –

Christmas is All About You by Mallory Hope –

The Christmas stockings were hung with care

Some were extraordinarily beautiful, others ordinarily fair

Some were hung by the chimney

Others were hung on the tree

Some were made with bright colors

While others must’ve been bought for a dollar

Some had lights that shined so bright

Others even glowed in the dark of night

Some had glitter that sparkled from time to time

None of these comes close to describing mine

On my wife’s she had written a bible verse

One of my daughters had Santa on hers

Another daughter made hers with good cheer

While another finished hers by writing the year

When we were all done we were quite pleased

Then we joined hands and prayed for the least of these

But back to the stockings galore

There’s so much to say, so much more

Some had to be at least three feet long

When those are filled, I hope the nail is strong

Some are just a little bigger than my foot

For mine, I gave Santa a list, in case he needed my input

Some are made with love, paint, and glue

Some are quite fantastic while others have a mistake or two

Some were stitched and crocheted with extreme care

Others looked like they came out of the drawer by your underwear

Some had stickers of Santa and Rudolph and such

Others had just a name, but that was enough

On that Christmas morning, I learned a thing or two

From these Christmas stockings and I’d like to share with you

It doesn’t matter what the outside is

Because there is one thing I know and it’s this

It doesn’t matter what’s on the outside

Because the outside is just a brilliant disguise

What matters the most the outside tries to hide

What really matters is what’s on the inside