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Long, long, ago in a manger of hay.
A baby was born for you and for me
To teach us to love and set us free.
Oh no! Oh no! cried Mary with fear
When she saw the Angel Gabriel standing near.
Don't worry said he with a hug and a smile,
God loves you a lot because you're his child.
He has sent me to tell you something exciting,
Something stupendous and oh-so inspiring!
What news do you bring? said a curious Mary,
Starting to become just a little bit wary.
By God's command you'll give birth to a son,
Whose name will be Jesus, the Holy One.
Mary looked puzzled, her confusion not hid.
She said, I'm not married. I can't have a kid.
We know that, the angel laughed and replied,
The Holy Spirit will put the baby inside.
Then Mary was filled with hope and wonder
As Gabriel left to visit another.
Mary's fiance, Joseph, was sound asleep
After a day of worry running deep.
How would he hide her from people's eyes?
Surely they'd judge them very unwise
For having a baby before it was time.
If only they knew it was God's design.
Into his dream an angel appeared.
Joseph, he cried, Do not be a-feared.
Make Mary your wife
For inside her the life
Of God's son will grow
And the whole world will know
That Jesus is king
His praise they will sing!
Joseph was so very pleased with these words
That he did as commanded by what he had heard.
Soon an order was sent across the land
For every woman and very man
To gather in cities by the Emperor's command
That a census be taken to count by hand.
Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem went.
Oh the hours and minutes of walking they spent!
Upon their arrival Mary's time was near
For the baby Jesus very soon would appear.
We need a room quick, cried Joseph in the street.
But every hotel their hopes would defeat.
No room for you here, the innkeepers said,
Not a space nor a chair or even a bed.
But God had prepared a stable for they,
A stable and manger, just for that day.
It was here in the manger the Son of God was born,
In a humble barn, with cloth adorned.
Out in the fields that very night
Shepherds watched over their flocks of white.
An angel of the Lord did shine,
And full of fear they heard his cry.
Behold, I bring you a good tiding
Of great joy for all abiding,
For born to you this day
A Savior has had made his way
As a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth
Lying in a watering trough
But oh! The sky is was filled with voices
Singing this message with great rejoices.
The shepherds, amazed by what they heard,
Heeded by angels to Bethlehem stirred.
Sure enough! The angels were right.
For beneath a stable in the stillness of night
They found Baby Jesus, Joseph, and Mary
Celebrating good news they would carry.
For every listener's ear they would leave
The birth of their Savior that December eve.
So let us each year remember this rhyme
December 25th, Christmas time.
We gather to share our presents with friends
To celebrate the greatest gift God could send:
His son, Jesus, our Savior and King
Whose word we read and praises we sing.
written by Janelle Manning