1 Though shepherds heard the angels,
the wise men saw a star,
a long-awaited signal,
and so they traveled far
to lay down precious treasures
before a little child.
His mother bid them welcome,
received their gifts, and smiled.
2 Yet Mary must have questioned
such gifts for one so small.
He could have used a blanket,
a rattle, or a ball,
not incense for a temple
or myrrh for one who’s dead;
or gold enough for monarchs
to crown his little head!
3 Was this an angel’s warning,
a prophet’s clever ruse,
to hint at her son’s future
and all her thoughts confuse?
She paused and, for a moment,
was overcome with dread;
then Jesus, laughing, smiling,
filled her with joy instead.
4 Whatever comes, thought Mary,
my son is in God’s care;
no matter what his future,
God always will be there.
She thanked God for these wise men
who traveled from afar
to bring her son strange presents
because of one great star.
Source: Faith That Lets Us Sing: fifty new hymns and short worship songs #76
Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator, has been a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. In 2016 she published Elfie: Adventures on the Midwest Frontier, a chapter book for children, and Embracing the Light: Reflectioins on God’s Holy Word, a collection of meditations for individual or small group use. Augsburg Fortress also published Sing the Stories of God’s NEW People, the third in a trilogy of Bible story-based collections of songs for young children, written with her longtime colleague, John D. Horman. The two have written over a hundred hymns togethe… Go to person page >
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