“O Little Town of Bethlehem”



My daughter Heather and I

Were Mary and Joseph

In a stable long ago

With donkey, sheep, and camel

And dozens of people who came to see

Christmas Eve in Germantown,

In Tennessee



I remember the feeling well

The wonder in Joseph’s eyes

Looking down at the baby Jesus

His marvelous son, and Mary

Holding Jesus in her arms

What an amazing wonder it was.

Jesus is born.  Emmanuel.



Every year the pageant plays

Over and over again

My daughter and I

Only play it once

Only once in our lifetime

But we would again, I know

This year we will travel

Four hours to see the stable

Unlike Joseph and Mary

Who went a day and a night

In difficult conditions

With yet-to-be-born Jesus



Although Mary rode the donkey

Good Joseph had to walk

Along the dusty trail

And over rocky terrain

Around dangerous curves

Robbers could easily hide

But travel they did



Knowing well the danger

Doing all they could

To protect the unborn Christ

So that he and soon-to-be mother

Could be safe and warm, in the

stable by the Inn.

Where Jesus would be born

Where Mary and Joseph

Welcomed three Wise Men

The shepherds from the fields

And angels keeping watch at night

So all would be safe and sound

For “God with us,” Emmanuel our King.