Come to the Manger

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Photo care of Blessed is She
Photo credit: Jessica (@jess.takin.pics)
Handlettering: Erica of Be a Heart Design 



Come to the Manger

Megan C. Hjelmstad
Come to the manger
Kneel close and see 
The Gift
Of eternity
Wrapped in infancy

Draw near at the invitation of the quiet young mother
glowing with love of son and God --
holding the hand which holds time

Feel the soft, wrinkled skin of His tiny palm
reaching, grasping, closing tightly around your finger
the innocence of this hand which will be carelessly thrust upon the rough, heavy beam
mercilessly pierced for our transgressions 
the hand from which His body will hang, sagging with the weight of all the world's darkness

Draw the sleeping babe toward your heart
as the gentle mother lovingly presses Him into your arms
Cradle him closer; let the soft velvet of smooth, unblemished skin nestle against yours
as a light sigh escapes the pucker of His lips
The lips destined to speak truth with authority.
The skin destined to bear the every mark of our rejection of Truth.

Rest near the manger
See, as he slumbers, the rise and fall of his little chest
Hear the lightness of his newborn breath
here to redeem the rise and fall of man
The breath of God, breathing the purity of new life
into our battered, shattered souls

As He wakes, hear the first new cries of Christ Incarnate,
echoing across time
Foretelling His final, broken cry --
relinquishing life
defeating death
sealing our salvation. 

Place him back the in the sure, strong, tender arms of His mother.
Marvel as she reverently wraps the swaddling clothes around His tiny form
See written across her face the uncontainable fullness of her heart
The heart which will be more fully pierced
with every word of injustice and buffet and blow until she cradles His body once more,
tucking around Him the cloths of His burial.

Come to the manger 
as she lays Him gently down,
the bright starlight catching the fluttering of His closing eyes,
the soft down of His hair.
Take in the innocence of king and redeemer --
The humble advent of ageless sovereignty

Stay by the manger
Accept with humility
This gift -- Our God --
Wrapped in humanity  
Mankind’s one hope
For all eternity.




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