When some of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves could not produce toys as fast as the regular ones and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure. Then when he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were gone. When he began to load the sleigh, a floorboard cracked and the toys fell out and scattered all around.

Frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of hot cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he found that the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the rum. In his frustration he accidentally dropped the cider jug and it broke into a thousand pieces. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then, the doorbell rang. An irritated Santa marched to the door. He yanked it open and found a little angel standing there with a very large Christmas tree. The angel said cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa! Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?" And thus began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree!

Oh, come on now! You know that before this holiday season is over, like Santa, you, too, will hit the wall of exhaustion and frustration. The deadline of preparation will loom over you and you will step out of character. Here's a little poem I wrote to speak of the yuletide stress most of us feel:

The quest for Christmas took me

all the way from here to yonder.

I prowled the centers and the malls

in search of Christmas wonder.

I longed to hear the heavenly host,

the herald angels harking.

But mostly what I heard were groans —

"There's just too little parking."

I stood in line to get a peek

at what the crowds were nabbing,

and wished the prices weren't so steep

so I could join the grabbing.

Soon I quit my eager search,

it was too aggravating.

I did what every year I do —

begin procrastinating.

So this year just the same as last,

I think of it and grieve.

Why do I always wait ''til last

and shop on Christmas Eve?

Harold Bales is a semi-retired Methodist minister who lives in Kannapolis. He's also got a new book out and copies are available for sale. For more information, visit www.TheSouthernFriedPreacher.com. Send him an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .