I wish you Christmas

I came across our 1976 Christmas letter last week, and was struck by the following Jane Merchant poem with which it ended. It’s just as appropriate as ever as my Christmas greeting to you.

 

 

How strangely, thoughtlessly unnecessary

It often seems to me that we should say,

“I wish you merry Christmas.” How can merry

or any other adjective, convey

A wish for greater gladness for our friends

More than the one word, Christmas, all alone,

The singing, shining word that comprehends

The utmost grace and glory [we] have known?

I wish you more, much more, than merriment;

All faith and hope and love and holy peace,

All quietness and radiant content

With blessings that continuously increase.

And when I say the simple words and small,

“I wish you Christmas,” I have wished you all.