Would I have chosen poverty, a manger, dirty hay–
Offensive odors, bed with beasts for a King to make His way?
Would I have chosen her–no name, despised of men,
Unable even to afford a blanket to put him in?
Would I have chosen Nazareth, the least expected place,
To usher in Redeemer-Christ, to hold the whole world’s grace?
The story–every strange detail–His character unfurls,
God displays His grandeur through the humblest of the world!
Worthy to be exalted but content to be despised,
Confounding through this “foolishness” what the world calls wise.
A King’s triumphal entry is announced with baby wails,
The only royal fanfare–the swishing of donkey tails.
Can you love this Savior who was helpless when He came?
Can you give yourself to One who exchanged His fame for shame?
Look again inside the trough that held life-food for beasts–
The Bread of Life sent there for starving man’s redemptive feast!
20 comments
Lovely.
Beautiful!
I love it, and I have never thought of it that way:
“Look again inside the trough that held life-food for beasts-
The Bread of Life sent there for starving man’s redemptive feast!”
Wow! What an amazing and powerful poem! Absolutely inspired!
Kelly,
What a heart-felt and beautiful poem. Did you write it?
Blessings,
-Lady Rose
Thank you, Lady Rose, yes I did.
I have a hard time fully grasping how He would willingly leave Heaven to come and suffer and die for us!!!
Beautiful! I love your poetry!
Oh Kelly-I think you meant “manger”, not “manager”.
😛
“Worthy to be exalted, content to be despised” hit me right in the throat! Who do I think *I* am then? Why does my pride ever DARE rear its ugly head?
This is such a precious read for me. Thank you!
So beautiful, thanks for sharing.
Ladies, forgive me, but I need prayers (and my family). For this past month my entire family’s gotten sick at one point, my poor mom the longest, which is so wearisome on a busy grandmother. Thus far, thanks for Airborne, I’ve totally eluded sickness. Until today; I have a nasty stomach affliction that’s caused awful, helpless vomiting. It’s not only misery, but I can’t help my family like this, and my mom’s still on the healing road. Kelly, how you survived soemthing far worse I’ll never know..
Thanks!
I’ll be praying, Jennifer…the good news is, it will pass if you can survive through it!
Thank you a lot! Please God, I just don’t want to vomit anymore.
I really never understand how I get sick or how God does not heal us right away. ALl I know is He is great. If I should go through this, it is for my benefit. Think of all the things you will not get because your immune system had a chance to get stronger… (says the girls who is still contending for healing…)
Forgot to add I prayed for you and family. I pray for life provoking confessions, too for you and your family.
Thank you, Kelly L! 🙂 My family is Christian and my mom practically a saint; don’t know how she puts up with weariness in her work. Your feelings are just like mine; why must we get sick?? This whole darn month has been misery for everyone, with everyone in the family getting sick (including Kelly’s family here too) and when I almost get out of the month unscathed, this mess happens. It’s not just frusteration for my sake; my parents often needed me to be healthy. Sometimes I felt selfish for asking for healing because of people out there who are worse off (I always pray for them too when I’m like this) but I jolted out of bed sicker than a dog last night and was reduced to begging for it to end. The good news? I think that last bout of sickness was the last. I woke up feeling not in the least nauseated.
Really lovely poem Kelly.
I am bookmarking this for my family to include in our annual Christmas musical/readings program next year. I love your poems!