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.