I've finished by 8th Nativity Set. . . . all except antiquing. I want my children and grandchildren to know that I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I enjoy this season of the year when everyone seems to feel a need to be a little more concerned, kind and generous.
This reading is one that I got back in the '80's when Katie was a baby. I remember memorizing it and reciting it for the girls in our ward as I sat in a rocking chair with her. It is a tender piece and always helps me to remember the "reason for the season". I hope you enjoy it and share it with others. I am not personally acquainted with the author. I appreciate her words and say "Amen" to them.
Merry Christmas Jannah Lynne. .. ...Sleep In Heavenly Peace
Written by Cheryl Adams Ferguson 28 December 1974- 4-:20 am
Here am I., A mother. .
Holding to my breast an infant daughter. .
Twelve days old this Christmas Eve.
As I watch your tiny features,
The miracle of life unfolds itself
Time after time
In your slightest stirring.
You are truly a most wondrous gift.
Tiny and delicate
But full of so much beauty;
You have brought with you such a great measure of love from our
HeavenIy home.
I wish you could remember and express
The activities of preparation in the realm
From which you have come,
For surely, they too celebrate
This day of days, Knowing better than we,
the meaning of Christ's birth.
And all that followed.
As I feel you close to me I cannot help but think of Mary,
And wonder at her strength. I wish the scriptures
had given her a page or two
To share with all the mothers of the world
Those sacred things she pondered in her heart.
Having felt so recently myself the strains of childbirth,
I think of her with wonder and compassion.
How difficult it must have been
To travel on a donkey as she did
Swaying from side to side
Trying to keep her balance
With nothing to lean an aching back against.
Finally, they arrived in Bethlehem
But found no resting place
Where she could get the proper care.
And yet, ..If it were me. .
I think perhaps I would be glad of a stable.
A place apart from the rowdy folk
To privately bear the pain And bear the child.
A place of our own in the ancient land
Where we need receive only those who knew his mission. ..
And believed.
And then the child was born!!
"She brought forth her first-born son
And wrapped Him in swaddling clothes
And laid Him in a manger. .."
How thrilling it must have been for Mary
To hold, at last, the child she had been promised.
What thoughts were hers as she smoothed damp hair upon His head
And watched with awe the tiny babe upon her lap?
I wonder if she was too tired to think
But rested quietly in the bliss
That follows when the
Wracking pain is done.
And joyfully realized
She had born a son,
And wondered at the miracle of Him,
Ten tiny toes. ..
And just as many fingers,
Molded to perfection. .
Though in miniature. .
And artfully assembled In the tiny being.
What did she know that night Of Calvary
Of Golgotha Or Gethsemane?
I hope His final days were not revealed to her as yet,
That she knew only that He had a special mission to perform.
I hope she was allowed As other mothers are
The privilege of dreaming for her child,
The joy of feeling Him And loving Him
And contemplating the miracle of birth.
I hope she had the quiet moments I'm sharing now with you
The rich reward for awkwardness
And discomfort for a few months
And agonizing pain for yet a while.
I hope she could not see in His tiny hand. .
Curled tightly around her finger. .
The prints of a nail.
I hope she could not foresee the breaking of that heart ..
Beating rapidly against the rhythm of her own.
I hope she did not know the rocky sorrowing path
Those tiny feet must trod.
But wept only tears of joy
As she beheld the Son of God.
But rest content, little one,
That other babe has grown And gained the strength to Drain the bitter cup.
And though his life was roughly taken,
To His mother's joy and
His Father's glory
He was lifted up
He conquered death
And through it saved us all.
No one else must suffer As He did.
Our salvation is assured
Because that tiny babe Was born of love
Love great enough to save the world.
That is the message of Christmas Beautiful birth and
Wondrous rebirth, A gift of a son
And of eternal life.
My little daughter
Rest assured these things are true.
The miracle has occurred.
The child has been born The mission fulfilled
And all is well.
No matter what the world Outside is shouting.
This knowledge is your heritage. I give it to you,
As my parents have given it to me.
It is my anchor in a wildly crashing sea. It calms all troubled waters
And sfills my doubting, tired soul with deep tranquility.
I love you And I will keep you tight within the circle of my love,
my Darling daughter My gift and blessing From my Father.
And so this night
All warmly wrapped in Christmas glow
I thank our Father
For His Son
and for the knowledge of His great redemption.
Keep this knowledge with you.
.My little girl,
May it ever light your life
And give you hope and comfort
When I, myself, cannot.
Rest your heavy eyelids And be assured
That no matter what each day of life may bring,
You may take your troubled heart to Him
And He will still it as He did the turbulent waters
on the Sea of Galilee.
So curl your tiny hand around my fingers.
Let me feel you. . Soft against my cheek.
Merry, Merry Christmas
Little girl of mine. .. Remember Him. .
And sleep in heavenly peace.
Written by Cheryl Adams Ferguson 28 December 1974- 4-:20 am
Here am I., A mother. .
Holding to my breast an infant daughter. .
Twelve days old this Christmas Eve.
As I watch your tiny features,
The miracle of life unfolds itself
Time after time
In your slightest stirring.
You are truly a most wondrous gift.
Tiny and delicate
But full of so much beauty;
You have brought with you such a great measure of love from our
HeavenIy home.
I wish you could remember and express
The activities of preparation in the realm
From which you have come,
For surely, they too celebrate
This day of days, Knowing better than we,
the meaning of Christ's birth.
And all that followed.
As I feel you close to me I cannot help but think of Mary,
And wonder at her strength. I wish the scriptures
had given her a page or two
To share with all the mothers of the world
Those sacred things she pondered in her heart.
Having felt so recently myself the strains of childbirth,
I think of her with wonder and compassion.
How difficult it must have been
To travel on a donkey as she did
Swaying from side to side
Trying to keep her balance
With nothing to lean an aching back against.
Finally, they arrived in Bethlehem
But found no resting place
Where she could get the proper care.
And yet, ..If it were me. .
I think perhaps I would be glad of a stable.
A place apart from the rowdy folk
To privately bear the pain And bear the child.
A place of our own in the ancient land
Where we need receive only those who knew his mission. ..
And believed.
And then the child was born!!
"She brought forth her first-born son
And wrapped Him in swaddling clothes
And laid Him in a manger. .."
How thrilling it must have been for Mary
To hold, at last, the child she had been promised.
What thoughts were hers as she smoothed damp hair upon His head
And watched with awe the tiny babe upon her lap?
I wonder if she was too tired to think
But rested quietly in the bliss
That follows when the
Wracking pain is done.
And joyfully realized
She had born a son,
And wondered at the miracle of Him,
Ten tiny toes. ..
And just as many fingers,
Molded to perfection. .
Though in miniature. .
And artfully assembled In the tiny being.
What did she know that night Of Calvary
Of Golgotha Or Gethsemane?
I hope His final days were not revealed to her as yet,
That she knew only that He had a special mission to perform.
I hope she was allowed As other mothers are
The privilege of dreaming for her child,
The joy of feeling Him And loving Him
And contemplating the miracle of birth.
I hope she had the quiet moments I'm sharing now with you
The rich reward for awkwardness
And discomfort for a few months
And agonizing pain for yet a while.
I hope she could not see in His tiny hand. .
Curled tightly around her finger. .
The prints of a nail.
I hope she could not foresee the breaking of that heart ..
Beating rapidly against the rhythm of her own.
I hope she did not know the rocky sorrowing path
Those tiny feet must trod.
But wept only tears of joy
As she beheld the Son of God.
But rest content, little one,
That other babe has grown And gained the strength to Drain the bitter cup.
And though his life was roughly taken,
To His mother's joy and
His Father's glory
He was lifted up
He conquered death
And through it saved us all.
No one else must suffer As He did.
Our salvation is assured
Because that tiny babe Was born of love
Love great enough to save the world.
That is the message of Christmas Beautiful birth and
Wondrous rebirth, A gift of a son
And of eternal life.
My little daughter
Rest assured these things are true.
The miracle has occurred.
The child has been born The mission fulfilled
And all is well.
No matter what the world Outside is shouting.
This knowledge is your heritage. I give it to you,
As my parents have given it to me.
It is my anchor in a wildly crashing sea. It calms all troubled waters
And sfills my doubting, tired soul with deep tranquility.
I love you And I will keep you tight within the circle of my love,
my Darling daughter My gift and blessing From my Father.
And so this night
All warmly wrapped in Christmas glow
I thank our Father
For His Son
and for the knowledge of His great redemption.
Keep this knowledge with you.
.My little girl,
May it ever light your life
And give you hope and comfort
When I, myself, cannot.
Rest your heavy eyelids And be assured
That no matter what each day of life may bring,
You may take your troubled heart to Him
And He will still it as He did the turbulent waters
on the Sea of Galilee.
So curl your tiny hand around my fingers.
Let me feel you. . Soft against my cheek.
Merry, Merry Christmas
Little girl of mine. .. Remember Him. .
And sleep in heavenly peace.
3 comments:
Your set looks so good! I have always loved my set but appreciate the amount of work and time that goes into it way more! I guess I will do pictures for Christmas now too since you guessed your present. I was going to have Justin make a special stand for it though so you didnt have to make room on your shelf. :)
Oh Joyce! That was one of the most beautiful writings I think I have read in a very long time. Thanks for sharing it. I love your beautiful work, too. I once had a nice collection, but through all of my moves over the past several years, most of them have been lost or gone elsewhere.
Check out my blog near Christmas, and I will post my writing about "What Was Mary Thinking?" I am in the midst of putting it to music and hope to have it finished by Christmas!
Lori
My Nativity you painted is my favorite Christmas decoration--and the nicks and chips are proof that I'm not the only one that likes it. I can remember you doing that reading on several occasions. It's beautiful. You're an amazing lady. Glad you're so easy to like.
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