The Manger Poem by JAMES T. ADAIR

I sat with my little grandaughter
a sweet little girl, almost 4
and told her a story
that I recalled telling once before

As we sat by a sparkling tree
I tried to teach her the meaning of Christmas
underneath it a manger scene
I pointed to a small ceramic figurine
of the newborn baby Jesus

As our little dogs sat by our side
I pointed to the little animals
and the three wise men
and Mary and Joseph
and the Angel above them

See, it seems like the story of Christmas
has been almost forgotten
overshadowed by all the gifts we've gotten
or the sadness or difficulties
that sometimes make life feel rotten
People rush at a hurried pace
for presents and ribbons and bows and lace
Everyone's all over the place
and even the children have anxiety
and things feel out of place

But here looking upon the manger scene
everything seems peaceful and serene
and the little girl, a smile and wonder on her face
and me, feeling a feeling of grace
as she touches the figures
and moves them
to their imagined perfect place
I see the thought upon her face

I tell her that the angel had come to Mary
and told her she would be have a baby
Jesus the son of God
The little girls understands, with a smile and nod
I tell her that they went to a town
looking for a place to sleep for the night
but everyone turned them away



The little girls asks 'why? ' knowing that fate seemed unjust
then finally someone said they could sleep in a manger
where the animals sleep, so they must
In God they put their trust

and the baby Jesus was born in a simple way
and that's a nice thought this Christmas Day
I seek to learn more his way
every sheep from the flock does sometimes stray
but with God's love and guidance, may find their way
silently I pray