Twas The Night Of A New Birth
(adapted from two Christmas classics)

Twas the night of a new birth, the Messiah, they say
would this be the king, that will lead us some day?
The sheep were all scattered and running amok
with hopes for a shepherd, to guide their wild flock.

While many had settled for life that was poor,
others still prayed for a life that held more.
I picked up my drum and tapped out a beat,
and followed the seekers, without shoes on my feet.

I wondered in silence, which way we should go,
then along came these wise men, and they seemed to know.
These sages had come from near and afar,
and seemed to be following this bright shining star.

I walked up behind them, to my drum gave a tap ,
and noticed these men had gifts in their wrap.
“Oh no!” I whispered, as I grabbed my cloak’s string.
What should I do? I have nothing to bring.

With no coins to spend on something of worth,
I wish I had something to bring to this birth.
Maybe I’ll find a gift on the way,
and what of its cost? I have nothing to pay.

The night had grown longer with no end in sight,
but I never gave up as we walked to the light.
The animals followed, as if they knew too,
that this night was special, with something anew.

At the top of a hill the wise men looked down,
to see crowded houses in a dimly lit town.
Is this the place to which we might see,
the birth of a child, come to set us all free?

We entered the gates and saw many men,
waiting outside the town’s only Inn.
The Innkeeper said there wasn’t room for this stranger,
try looking out back in a shabby old manger.

There in the field was a small wooden place,
where we first laid our eyes on his beautiful face.
The parents were kneeling, by their new baby boy,
you could see in their eyes of this wonderful joy.

Still without gift, I had only my drum,
so I started to play, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum.
The soft gentle sound had calmed down the sheep,
and the little boy, Jesus, was soon fast asleep.

This is the child, come from God up above,
he came not to judge, but to give out his love.
And I thought of God’s promise as I laid by the stall,
there’s good news to tell, and new life for all.

A GIFT FOR LIFE

Every year many people gather together as friends and as families to celebrate Christmas. We spend an unbelievable amount of money to buy gifts, that we hope will bring joy and happiness to the ones we give to. And, like many of us, we also receive gifts in return.

After that day of celebration is over there is usually a feeling of satisfaction on what was given and received. There is also the feeling of relief that the shopping frenzy is over, except maybe the tens of thousands of gifts that are returned or exchanged the next day or soon after, for one reason or another.

Ah, Christmas, that glorious time when retailers hope to see their businesses gain enough sales profit to once again be free and clear of debt. Most notably, the notorious ‘BLACK FRIDAY’. The day after Thanksgiving, where countless mobs of shopping maniacs start the day earlier than most people start on a normal day, just to get the most sought after and precious gifts, thus putting retailers, hopefully, in the black, financially.

I have mixed feelings about how we celebrate Christmas. I do enjoy giving gifts to my family and friends and I also enjoy receiving gifts as well. However, I do not participate in Black Friday (for my own sanity, and the enjoyment of sleeping off the turkey day’s gluttony of food intake), and I hope that what I give or receive does not need to be exchanged or returned for one reason or another.

Another part of me sees and honors the part of Christmas, that Christians all over the world recognize as the birth of Jesus. It is that gift from God that brings to us a gift so perfect, so valuable, and so beneficial to our everyday lives, that words cannot always explain the joyfulness and happiness that is gained through receiving of it. How much did God spend on this gift to us? EVERYTHING he had. And it was all out of love for each and every one of us. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.” JOHN 3:16, 17

It is in the book of Genesis chapter 5, where it is said, when God created human beings, he made them like himself, that I would like to give my thanks to the special gifts we’ve been given:

To all the parents and to all the families and friends who helped in the raising of the men and women who serve in our country’s military, may God bless you. May God bless the parents who gave the lives of their children, so that we may continue to enjoy life. May God bless all of those in the military who give their lives or who have given their lives, so that ours might be saved.

When we begin to understand God’s greatest gift to man and what that means to us, we may also begin to see where images of God are alive within us and are at work, not to judge us, but to preserve life, from the evils of this world.