During this time of pressured season,
Stop a moment and use your reason.
Just what is important–stop the rush,
Would Jesus really approve this fuss?
I don’t think so; I know he wouldn’t,
We’ve taken steps that we shouldn’t.
A blessed saint was born this day,
Honor we don’t with madness this way.
Calm yourselves, take deep breaths,
Put aside these man-made frets.
If you choose to pay tribute,
Follow his lead with a contribute.
Outlandish gifts that put you in debt,
Would leave this wise man bathed in sweat!
Opulence, gluttony, overdoing,
Sends us on our way to undoing.
Don’t bow to the pressure, use your brain,
This day of respect has lost its aim.
Reflect on the man, not the glamour,
Give up the madness and all the clamor!
Join us at Open Link Night 23 at dVerse Poets with a poem of your choice: http://dversepoets.com/2011/12/20/open-link-night-week-23/
Also adding this to Write2Day–Presents versus Presence: http://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/write2day-presents-versus-presence/#comments
Bodhirose's Blog 
Morning
/ December 19, 2011wise words, we need these advice to get over the holiday.
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Bodhirose
/ December 20, 2011Thank you, Morning. People put too much pressure on themselves during this time. xo
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Laura Maria
/ December 19, 2011Thanks for this reminder. Indeed Jesus is the reason for the season and we need to concentrate more on Him during these busy days.
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Bodhirose
/ December 20, 2011You’re welcome. It’s gotten worse and worse hasn’t it. Thank you for the nice comment.
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Victoria C. Slotto
/ December 19, 2011I love this, Gayle. If you have time, it would be a nice post for my prompt on Wednesday afternoon. :0)
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Bodhirose
/ December 20, 2011Thank you, Victoria. I’m sure I’ll have the time…I’ll see you on Wednesday. 🙂
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brian
/ December 19, 2011great call for sanity during this season…it is needed for sure…
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Bodhirose
/ December 20, 2011This “insanity” causes a lot of pain doesn’t it.
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brian miller
/ December 20, 2011yes it does…hope you have a wonderful holiday!
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011I hope you do too, Brian…thank you!
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becca givens
/ December 20, 2011This is great, Gayle!! Wish more and more would realize this! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ December 20, 2011It took me a while to realize that I didn’t need to go along with the “game”. Thank you, Becca, for a supportive comment.
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hedgewitch
/ December 20, 2011You sum it up well. It’s all about the money any more. Sometimes I think people have just gone completely nuts.
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011I agree…I think some people have totally lost their minds.
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wolfsrosebud
/ December 20, 2011Great out-look of this precious time
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011It should be a precious time, shouldn’t it… Thank you.
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Laurie Kolp
/ December 20, 2011I love this. I think it should be made into a poster and hung in shopping malls. Merry Christmas.
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Thanks, Laurie. I think mall security would have it yanked down in no time…hehe..
Merry Christmas! xo
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Laurie Kolp
/ December 21, 2011lol- you’re right… then we’ll find another place to hang it
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Kellie Elmore
/ December 20, 2011applauding that second (and third) stanza! no, applauding the whole thing! great work. should we all heed and acknowledge your advice. Happy Holidays!
http://magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/polaroids-of-delilah/
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Many thanks, Kellie. Happy Holidays to you!
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Heaven
/ December 20, 2011I agree with you on this…nice thoughts for the holiday season (and madness)
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Thanks, Heaven…I thought it appropriate to share my thoughts on the subject/madness…
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mpucukilalang
/ December 21, 2011hello, Bodhirose
your poem holds valuable lessons in it, this made my day! not only beautiful but affect the reader
thank you 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Hello, so very glad that you enjoyed this and I appreciate the lovely comment. Thank you, too. 🙂
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Lorna's Voice
/ December 21, 2011Amen, Gayle! Amen and Namaste!
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Right on, sister!
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voiceoftruelove
/ December 21, 2011Simply lots of Truth in this, we sooo need to re-focus on the True heart and Spirit of Christmas celebrations, and hold on to it all year round. Merry Christmas!
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Thank you very much for your kind comment–I appreciate this. Merry Christmas to you as well!
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voiceoftruelove
/ December 21, 2011By celebrating True heart and Spirit in Christmas, i mean the Birth of the Savior Christ Jesus and all He stands for.
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Thank you for the clarification. 🙂
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~L
/ December 21, 2011Very powerful! Very true! Thank you for your words!
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Thanks so much for your supportive comment! It’s nice to be acknowledged.
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Ravenblack
/ December 21, 2011I think for some people it’s nothing to do with remembering Christ at all. There is quite a lot of madness at the malls. Outlandish gifts — I couldn’t help but laugh a bit at that line. It’s true, sometimes to outdo or trying to be original, one goes out of the way getting strange and costly gifts that ultimately just prove to be useless.
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011I think he’s totally forgotten by many–I agree, and a LOT of madness. Thanks for coming by and sharing your meaningful thoughts with me, Ravenblack.
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Mary
/ December 21, 2011Your poem is a breath of fresh air here on dVerse. We do need to keep in mind the meaning of the season and reflect on the babe who was born in a manger long ago. I am sure he wouldn’t approve of all the glitz that is part of Christmas now.
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Bodhirose
/ December 21, 2011Why thank you, Mary…I appreciate your support on dVerse. We sure do need to remember what the true purpose is for the day. At least we could reel it in a bit (a lot!) couldn’t we.
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souldipper
/ December 21, 2011It’s hard to imagine what Jesus would say about all the shenanigans. Let’s hope we are all growing the courage to stop the silliness and come back to the essence of our celebration.
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Bodhirose
/ December 22, 2011I don’t think he would be happy. And it does take courage to take that step to go against the tide of pressure to conform. It’s the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality…
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markwindham
/ December 22, 2011So true. Hard to get past the gift giving to remember the gift received.
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Bodhirose
/ December 22, 2011Right!
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Sheila Moore
/ December 22, 2011awesome rhyme and an even greater message. I agree! Merry Christmas to you.
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Bodhirose
/ December 22, 2011Merry Christmas, Sheila…and thanks too.
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Inside the Mind of Isadora
/ December 22, 2011Too cool with the words that are right on … you said it all.
Peace ….
Isadora
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Bodhirose
/ December 23, 2011Many thanks, Isadora.
Peace and love…
Gayle
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Harish G.
/ December 26, 2011Very correct you are here!
Being pulled into commercial aspect of Christmas is the only thing that ruins not only Christmas but also the time ahead.
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Bodhirose
/ December 26, 2011Thank you, Harish and you are so very right too. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me.
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Inside the Mind of Isadora
/ December 26, 2011I came back to re-read this because I loved it so ….
Words well said on the subject of presence and presents ….
it hits the bullseye with this one.
Hope your having a blessed Christmas …
Merry,
Izzy
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Bodhirose
/ December 26, 2011Had a lovely day yesterday with the family, Izzy. I hope yours was peaceful and relaxing as well.
It’s especially nice when someone comes by twice to read a posting…many thanks!
Holiday cheers…
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zongrik
/ December 28, 2011what sane rational being would approve the fuss and rush?
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Bodhirose
/ December 28, 2011My point exactly…
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dragonkatet
/ January 2, 2012YES! Very well said. When I read an article about a woman pepper-spraying shoppers because of the madness, all I could do was blink and shake my head at what a consumerist mentality has possessed people here in the U.S. You’re right, it’s insane. It seems that here in the states, it has become one long nightmare of consumerism, greed and total insanity from right before Halloween all the way through the new year. When did we start to lose the humanity and true meaning of these celebrations?
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Bodhirose
/ January 2, 2012I heard that same story, Corina…totally bonkers!
Losing our humanity is way too high of a price to pay…you are so right–but people pay it anyway don’t they…
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