First Christmas

In the silence of night a star shone bright
where shepherds grazed their sheep.
An angel announced the good news
of a Savior born in a humble stable.
In awe they came to worship him,
amazed at the Babe lying in a manger.

One of the shepherds said, “You must come
to my house where it is warm and clean.
This is no place for a tiny baby.”
Joseph smiled at him gratefully – they
followed him to a nearby hut, and Mary
laid Jesus in a tiny crib that had belonged
to the shepherd’s son when he was a baby.

But soon the couple had to flee to Egypt
to avoid Herod’s slaughter.

Then the shepherd laughed as he told 
all his neighbors how he had housed 
the new-born Savior and had held 
the Child in his arms. 

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