A Prayer Before Gift Opening

Look at the gifts, scattered and stacked beneath the tree.
What is their source? Where did they come from?
Aunt Jane? Cousin Fred? Look to the tree. It hold in its
branches the answer. Look where it points.
For, despite what the tags may say, the tree knows.
Its piney finger points to the sky--heaven,
where God reigns as King!
Its needles, ever green, proclaim the lord of LIFE!
And, even as angels, aglow with God's glory, once sang
Christmas praises--"Glory to God in the highest heaven"
--so the tree also glows in echoing refrain.
"Glory to God," the tree whispers.
And we join our voices with trees and angels,
with sheperds and wise men.
"Glory to God!" we shout. "Glory to God,
who gave not only these gifts..but love...and life...
and Christ our Lord!
Amen+