It's Christmas, it's Christmas--
that wonderful season
When children are good
for a very good reason!
They've almost got wings
sprouting out of their backs...
And that's when their guardian angels relax.
Relax? All but one; for one angel is sad.
He's got lots of troubles to make him feel bad:
Dozens of worries, both weary and weighty,
Plenty of problems--
and all
caused by
Katie!
Katie's a child who is terribly hard
For even the best, kindest angel to guard;
And here's why she's keeping her angel perplexed:
No one but Katie knows what she'll do next!
She showed her pet skunk
to her aunt's Ladies Aiders,
She made a big kite
that would lift second graders,
She beat all the boys at the track meet in June,
And she built a "real" rocket
to ride to the moon!
Her angel was frantic.
He said, "I can't stand it!
I'd rather be guarding a beggar or bandit!
I'll take off my wings and my robe, right away,
If I can stop guarding that KATIE, today!"
Just then he heard CRASH!
And his wings gave a lurch--
Katie's football had smashed the big window in church!
Poor angel! He got on his knees, there and then,
And prayed, "Lord forgive her! She's done it again!
We both are to blame-- but I have done my best;
And (Lord, forgive me now) that girl is a pest!"
The angel had finished-- when high overhead
A voice spoke: "Dear angel, I've heard what you said.
Children have feelings no angel can know...
I was a child on earth, long years ago.
Be patient with Katie, and show her the way,
And I will watch over you both, every day."
The angel found Katie in church. She was crying.
Through the big broken window
the snowflakes were flying.
Could the Christmas Eve program
be held there that night
When the pews and the floor
were all cold, wet, and white?
The angel said, "Katie, don't sit there and fuss.
Repairing the window is all up to us.
A miracle's needed when life looks the worst--
But YOU must get busy and work on it first!
You don't have the glass, wood, or metal, I know;
Could you sew up a patchwork
to keep out the snow?"
"Who, me? I can't sew!"
Katie gloomily said--
Then a big blob of snow
hit her right on the head!
So she set off for home, and by evening had built
A really remarkable church-window quilt
With pieces of kite, and her old skating coat,
Parachutes, bathing suits, sails from her boat,
Pup tents and pennants and boxing glove leather,
And her basketball team helped her sew it together.
As soon as the patchwork was tacked into place
The angel came in with a smile on his face.
And both he and Katie got down on their knees,
Praying, "Lord, could you spare
one
small
miracle--
please?"
That night, all the people who happened to pass
Saw a wonderful window of glistening glass!
And the light from the candles were shining inside
On the angel and Katie-- both beaming with pride.
(Just take a look now,
while the happy choir sings...
You'll see --even Katie-- has almost got wings!)
