Conundrum
by R. Wayne Edwards
October 1997

When Johnny was three, our Christmas was fun.
We got up early to see what Santa had done.
That Santa existed, he sure had no doubt,
For Santa had eaten the food we left out.

At four and at five, he still was naïve.
He was filled with excitement on each Christmas eve.
But when he was six, he started to doubt.
We were sure he was going to find the truth out.

We had to be sneaky and tell little lies.
We just didn't want to spoil his surprise.
It was not just for him but it was to please us
And of course he was taught the birthday of Jesus

For that was the meaning we had to impart,
If he was to have Jesus' love in his heart.
Then one day after school, he sat down and cried.
All of his friends told him we had lied.

We tried to explain the things we had done,
Were to make him excited, to make Christmas fun.
We found out how hard our trust was to mend,
When we heard him discussing his hurt with a friend.

"No Santa Claus? No Easter Bunny?
They told me those lies and they think that it's funny?
I tell you just what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna check on this Jesus stuff too!"