’Twas the night before Christmas, and deep in my heart,
Not a memory forgotten, not even a part;
The baubles were hung on the tree with such care,
In hopes that my loved ones would soon gather there.

The cookies were baking in the oven that night,
While visions of family time danced very bright;
And Mama next door helped me out all the way,
By cooking the turkey for that Christmas day.

When I woke in the morning, the house was so still,
I tried to get up, but I hadn’t the will;
Depressed by the memory my dear son was dead,
The night of his murder still flashed in my head.

The darkness prevailed, and I pulled up the covers,
In hopes that I’d hide from my husband and others;
But, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a soft, caring hand that belonged to my dear.

With eyes full of kindness, he showed me God’s love,
I knew in a moment it came from above;
So special, so gentle, his presence appeared,
He kissed and embraced, and my poor heart he cheered.

“Now, Jesus is Lord!”—this I know to be true,
Because he sent Michael to carry me through;
I went to the kitchen and sat at the table,
Where breakfast awaited with a story of a stable.

I wiped away tears as he started to read,
Of Jesus who died so we don’t have to bleed;
So into his lap and embrace I then came,
Tears dripped from my chin with such sadness again.

And then, in a twinkle, I heard my love say,
That Jesus had told him to heal me that day;
I picked myself up and was turning around,
When Mike grabbed my waist, and that’s when I found.

He was a reminder of God’s grace to me,
Because Jesus died on the cross at Calvary;
And so all the world could be saved by this act,
If they chose to accept Him and enter the pact.

To surrender their past, make Him Lord of their life,
Lay their problems before Him and give up their strife;
The gift of His sacrifice waits with a bow,
Your sins, through His blood, will be washed white as snow.

The nails on that cross held his feet and his hands,
And with his last breath, darkness covered the land;
But he rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven,
To join God, the Father who’d selflessly given.

A son to this earth to be born from Mary,
A pure, worthy virgin whom God chose to carry;
So choose this free gift and accept it for real,
Then share it with friends so that they, too, can kneel.

And make Him their Savior, so heaven they will see,
Like my son, who was murdered and taken from me;
I felt a breeze blowing that day through my home,
And knew it was God, and I wasn’t alone.

To know that my son is in heaven brought joy,
My worries now over, my life I’ll enjoy;
That day passed with family and friends and God’s light,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

 ’Twas the night before Christmas by Tammy Horvath summarizes the memoir Gone in an Instant.

If you haven’t had a chance to purchase a copy or want a preview of my memoir, Gone in an Instant, click here.

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