A Christmas Poem From AM~Erica

So anyway...

I penned this in 2006 to be a children's nativity play. I thought it would be fairly easy to track down a version of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" with a spin of the telling of the Nativity Story to be adapted into a narrative children's Nativity play. To my shock...there wasn't. So, with a copy of the original poem, a plate of pumpkin pancakes & some coffee at IHOP, and opening myself up to His Word & guidance...I just wanted to be a vessel in His storytelling. And this is what happened. And we did a play that year.

And I wanted it to have the same kind of feel of being gathered around the selected family member to read the story of the night before Christmas by the fire, everyone in their jammies getting ready for bed in anticipation for the following morning...

So, I have made it an annual thing to share it with anyone who is willing to read it.

As your Christmas season winds down, don't forget what was actually going on that night. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

(a few revisions to wording from it's original debut...still the same story)

I bring to you now, "'Twas the Night That was Christmas":

~~~~~~~~~~

'TWAS THE NIGHT THAT WAS CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the night that was Christmas, when all through the stable,

not a creature was stirring beneath the barn’s gable.

The signage was hung outside the inn with care

with the statement of “No Vacancy” there.

Poor Joseph, with Mary about to give birth,

traveled to Bethlehem to pay up their worth.

Only a stable stall left to shelter Mary from danger

so she could bear a son and place Him in a manger.

***

The shepherds were resting upon the hillside

of Bethlehem’s outskirts, where their sheep do reside;

after making sure no wolf was around,

they took a nap right there on the ground.

When all through the skies, there arose such a clatter!

The shepherds sprang up to see what was the matter;

they each picked up their staff and their sash

to see that an angel appeared in a flash!

“Please, don’t hurt us,” they shouted and prayed;

the angel of God said, “Do not be afraid:

I bring you glad tidings with good news to tell!

The Savior is here in a manger knell.”

Then heavenly hosts joined in from above

to help deliver this message of love:

“Glory to God in the highest, and peace on the Earth

to all whom His favor rests,” was sung of the birth.

“Now run, see the babe in swaddling clothes –

you will find Him in the stable where the large starlight shows.

We give you our word, and on angels’ wing

your flocks will be safe as you bow to the King!”

***

Now there were magi from the Orient, afar,

who studied the skies and found a new star.

They told this king, Herod, by name,

and he sent them to follow after making this claim:

“If this leads you to the ‘King of the Jews,’

please come tell Herod so he can praise the little King, too.”

But the magi knew (because they are wise)

that what Herod wanted was the baby’s demise.

So, off they set, with no plan to return,

bringing with them gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The journey was long to find Joseph and wife,

and the baby boy Savior, who would change every life.

That star shown brightly, much more than the moon;

a spotlight for the One delivering God’s people soon!

The stage is now set for those who come by

to listen to the mother sing a soft lullaby.

Now lay there, the babe in the manger stall,

being adored by those who received the great call.

So tiny, yet regal, in such a low place,

adorning a halo surrounding His face.

God chose to come to the Earth as a child –

(to be with, and like, the ones that He’d styled)

as a sweet baby boy in a place so lowly,

to arise so divine, and perfect, and holy.

The time has now come to worship and sing

that Jesus Christ is crowned Savior and King!

Now the Savior is here to save us from strife!

So…Merry Christmas to all, and to all, eternal life!

~~~~~~~~~~

Merry Christmas, everyone! May it be merry, bright, meaningful & thoughtful.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica