Saturday, December 26, 2015

If I Had Been There by Suzanne Hancock


Lighting up the darkened sky,
The moon shines full and bright
A beacon there to guide us
On yet another Christmas night

My mind turns to reflect
Upon that Holy time long ago
Mary rocks her newborn child
Her sweet voice tender and low

If I had been there in Bethlehem
What role might I have played?
Would I be an overworked innkeeper
Or a shepherd who was afraid?

Would I have heeded the angel’s call
And to the King swiftly gone?
Would I have wanted to linger there
Not departing until the dawn?

Like the Wise Men I may have been
My gift at a later date bringing
Seeing then a sweet toddler instead
His praises triumphantly singing

Would I be like the Nephites so brave
Waiting with patience for signs to appear
Never denying the prophesied words
Knowing the Lord said, “Be of good cheer”?

Perhaps I would be in the Heavenly choir
Ringing down Hallelujahs from above
Tuning my voice and my heart to His
Filling my eternal soul with His love

None of these were my stories, I know
I was simply a spectator to the glorious events
I do not recall what I thought nor felt
With the earthly veil around me not rent

I hope I felt then like I feel so now
Looking at the moon, white and pure,
Knowing that He came to suffer for me
Knowing that His love for me is sure

Who or what I may have been back then
Matters not now on this earthly night
What matters is how I try to be like Him
Do I serve? Love? Shine with His light?

In that stable I would have loved to be
Witness to miracles that did abound
Even so, with my own burning heart’s desire
His grace, His truth, His embrace I have found.

7 comments: