At the recent Folk Cafe in Trinity Methodist Church I read this poem which I found in the book “Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” by Pam Rhodes. The poem was written by Tafadawa Mhondiwa Mugari.

There once was a shining Christmas tree,

Standing out where all could see.

Its brilliance captured every eye

And seemed to cheer each passer-by.

“The lights are so bright,” they would say

And hesitate to walk away.

The tree stood proud, ablaze with light

For every light was burning bright.

Then one bulb was heard to say

“I’m tired of burning night and day;

I think I’ll just go out and take a rest

For I’m too tired to do my best;

Besides I am so very small

I doubt if I’d be missed at all.”

Then a child lovingly touched the light,

“Look, mother, this one shines so very bright.

I think of all the lights upon the tree

This one looks the best to me.”

“Oh my goodness,” said the light

“I almost dimmed right out of sight.

I thought perhaps no one would care

If I failed to shine my share.”

With that a glorious brilliance came

For every light had felt the same.

Our Gospel, like this Christmas tree,

With little lights which are you and me,

We each have a space that we must fill

With love, and lessons and good will.

Let’s keep our tree ablaze with light,

With testimonies burning bright.

For our Gospel is a living tree

That lights the way to eternity.

 This poem touched me in two ways. We so often hear the expression “it’s like a lightbulb being switched off,” when talking about the awful illness called Alzheimer’s. Secondly there are many people who think that what they do is so insignificant that if they stopped making their small contribution they would not be missed. Let’s pray that those suffering this Christmas will find some relief and that those who are feeling insignificant will realise their value.