Dear Father,

This joyous time of year came with a huge price. The birth of your Son meant the death of your Son because that is what He came to do. Sometimes we get caught up in the merrily, merrily and ignore the verily, verily part. The cradle without the cross is incomplete. We must tell the whole story to a world that desperately needs to hear it. In memory of my friend Jo Ann McGee who saw beyond Bethlehem and rejoiced in the blessed hope of heaven, I dedicate my own rendition to a continuation of the beloved Christmas carol “Away in a Manger”:

 

“Away in a manger

no crib for a bed

the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky

looked down where he lay

the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” 1

 

Away in a tomb

a place for the dead,

the battered Lord Jesus lay on a stone bed.

The angels in heaven

looked down in dismay

the battered Lord Jesus died for me that day.

 

Awake in three days

awake from the dead

the risen Lord Jesus lifts up His sweet head.

The angels rejoicing

the demons see doom

the risen Lord Jesus walks out of the tomb.

 

Awake oh my soul

He’s a place in my heart

the reigning Lord Jesus has torn death apart.

The Father in heaven

hands keys to His Son

the reigning Lord Jesus, the battle has won.

 

Away oh my troubles

away all my pain

the coming Lord Jesus will gather His claim.

The saints in the sky

will sing with great cheer,

the coming Lord Jesus, He soon will be here.

 

Love,

Penny

1 Author unknown. Music by William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895