What Child?

(Flat Creek Bottle Chapel, Flat Creek, TN)


What
child is this,
whose manger lies
beneath the dark, cold
Bethl’em skies? Child of wonder,
child of woe, child whose heart will
not let go of pain and suf’ring, war and strife,
of that which burdens
all of life.

Child
whose heart
breaks hard and true
for that which God desires
to do: bring light to darkness,
salve to pain; bring hope to those
who know but bane. Child whose simple
gifts unfold
grace’s promise
ancient told:

“Who
you are
and who you’ll
be, were all designed
at dawned eternity; live
into hope, love into being,
and Christmas’ gift you will be seeing!”
Join angels’, shepherds’, Magi’s voice, for
Emmanuel’s tent and pitching rejoice. May Christmas’ 
joy in your life abound; may you live its
gift the
whole year
‘round!

© 2016 Todd Jenkins