[049]. A Message From A Poem – Christmas With The Shepherds

[049]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTMAS WITH THE SHEPHERDS

This is a very simple poem. I was asked to write a poem for Christmas by a friend who was doing religious instruction at a school and it is aimed at younger children.

Although I do not agree with the trappings of Christmas as mentioned in the first two stanzas, young children are not the subjects for argument over Christmas disputes. I did that in my previous poem Christmas Travesty – Pseudo Christmas.

The poem recounts the nativity story more related to the shepherds. I think that was what my friend wanted. There is nothing else I think we can say, but I will attach the shepherd verses –

{{Luke 2:8-12 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. An angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened, and the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13-14 Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Luke 2:15-16 It came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us,” and they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

Luke 2:17-20 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds, but Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.}}

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CHRISTMAS WITH THE SHEPHERDS

Santa Claus and reindeer too

Are seen at Christmas time,

On greeting cards with frosted dew,

Along with silver bells that chime.

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Reindeer pull the sleigh they say

Across the sky at night.

And when the night has passed to day,

New presents greet the children’s sight.

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Shepherds long ago did hear

The message angels gave,

That Christ the Lord was born quite near,

The One God sent, our lives to save.

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Angels in the sky above

(With shepherds in the field),

Were speaking of God’s peace and love;

God’s plan to them was there revealed.

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Straight away they left to see

The Babe in Bethlehem,

And found Mary with the Saviour -

Such glory God allowed for them.

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Christmas time is when we think

About the Christ who came,

For He’s the One who is the Link;

The Saviour of the world, His name.

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Jesus wants us all to know

In Him we must believe,

And to our friends we then will show

The Infant Christ, we do receive.

2 November 1999 R E Ferguson 7-6-8-8