Former Dunklin County resident reflects on holidays through published poem

Gaylon and Judy Knox

Judy Knox, of Dyersburg, Tenn., moved to Senath, Mo., in approximately 1954 and lived there until she was 18-years-old.

Knox noted that she married her husband, Gaylon Knox, when she was 18-years-old and moved to Dyersburg, Tenn.

The couple have also lived in Memphis, Tenn., but moved back to Dyersburg last year.

Knox noted that, when living in Senath, her family lived in the first house of Senath, originally lived in by Asenath Douglas.

This house, at one time, had housed a library and a post office in the city.

Knox added that remains of the library and post office could still be found in the house when her family occupied it.

"All of the houses I lived in when residing in Senath are gone, but the town has not changed that much," Knox said.

She added that her duties while living in Senath included working in the field and cooking meals.

Since leaving Senath, Knox has written a total of five books. Two of these books have been published.

The first book, "Praise in the Shadows," which was written while Knox was ill with cancer, was self published by the couple.

The second book, "Fishing with the Master," was published by Master Design Ministries, according to Knox.

The origin of the Christmas poem comes from a Christmas that her family had spent in the City of Senath, according to Knox.

On this Christmas Eve she overheard her father telling her mother, "I can't even give my children Christmas presents."

She noted that she began crying when she heard her father and ran to put her arms around him.

She said, "We have each other, it doesn't matter that we don't have presents."

According to Knox, the next night her father called she and her younger brother into the living room of the home and read the two children the classic Christmas story.

She added that the memory returned to her one Christmas when she was diagnosed with cancer, Gaylon had been laid off from his job, and both of their children were sick.

"God gave me the poem," Knox said. "I wrote it down and said someday maybe this will help someone else."

She noted that when something happens in her life, God gives her a poem and comforts her.

"This Christmas seems more meaningful than any other," Knox said.

The poem, "Christmas Isn't What it Used to be," is an exert from the book, "Praise in the Shadows."

Christmas isn't what it used to be,

Today it's Santa Claus and presents 'neath a tree,

And stores with colored lights where sales are on,

And credit cards when your cash reserve is gone.

Commercialism seems to be the thing,

The businessmen its many praises sing,

No, Christmas isn't what it used to be,

But I'll tell you now what Christmas means to me.

Christmas is my head on Daddy's knee,

While he reads the BIBLE story tenderly,

Of a tiny baby born so long ago,

In Bethlehem in a manger small and low.

Daddy said HE cam to save the world from sin,

With the message PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN.

He said that wise men traveled from afar,

Daddy said that they were guided by a star.

And shepherd's watching over flocks of sheep,

Saw angels guard the tiny baby's sleep.

The peace and joy the world knew way back then,

This sin filled world will never know again.

But when I think of Christmas and the gift GOD gave you see,

I'm filled with love of miracles, that's what Christmas means to me.

Judy Knox's published books by Master Design Ministries can be found online at masterdesign.org