Every Christmas Eve, for as long as I can remember, my mom would read us the book "When He Comes Again" by Mirla Greenwood Thayne. The book is out of print now, but I was so excited to find a copy of it!
In the LDS church, primary children sing the song, "I Wonder When He Comes Again" mostly as an Easter song. What most people don't know is that it was actually written as a children's Christmas story. All through my life, this story, about the birth, life and mission of the Savior, has been the essence of Christmas Eve.
Most of you know that my mother lost her battle with cancer on December 24th, 2003. At the time, so many people expressed concern over the loss of our mother on Christmas Eve. It was difficult, and has changed my experience of the Holidays, for sure. But I can't help thinking that the timing of this situation, just as everything else in our lives, was and is a direct blessing from Heavenly Father. Anyone that's lost a loved one will tell you that there is no good time to have to go through the experience. But could there be a better time to experience such a loss, than the one night of the year when Christians the world over are focused on the birth of the Savior, whose entire mission and purpose was to conquer death so that each of us could live again?
If you had the privilege of knowing my mom, you would understand me when I say that I was always amazed at her insight and inspiration. I believe that it wasn't a coincidence that she read us this story every Christmas Eve throughout our entire lives. I count it a blessing, that on the very night that she slipped from this mortal life into eternity, she herself had, for her entire life as a mother, prepared us to handle that loss.
For those of you that would like to read the story, which is written in the form of a poem, I've posted it below. It's long but VERY worth it.... :)
When He Comes Again
by Mirla Greenwood Thayne
Prologue
It's Christmas time and once again
The world repeats the story
Of peace on earth good will to men,
And children sing the glory
Of angels and a shining star
Of wise men bending low,
And of a baby's natal day
So many year's ago.
And families gather, blest with love
To laugh and play with glee.
While mothers hold their wee ones close
Beside the Christmas tree.
And poets let hearts overflow
To weave their picture words
While music sparks the crystal air
With songs that have been heard
Through ages past. Bright windows gleam
With incandescent light
Because a new and wond'rous star
Was seen that Holy Night.
And while the heart remembers
It learns the joy of living.
Oh Christmas, Christmas, blessed word
Synonymous to giving.
When He Comes Again
I like to trim a Christmas tree
With ornaments so bright,
To place on every single branch
A colored crystal light.
A lovely way to celebrate
The birthday of a King...
Bright lights upon a glowing tree
That stays, forever, green.
I wonder, does each small tree pray
That someday it will be
Chosen from the forest
To become a Christmas tree?
Chosen from the forest
To stand straight and tall, to hold
The gilded star, a symbol
Of that Silent Night of old?
Then mother sat right close to us.
We watched the sparkling glow
Of crystal balls and shining lights.
"How blest we are to know
The story of the star," she said,
"And how it came to be,
Come, dears, let's hear it once again
Beside the Christmas tree."
"Oh, yes, I love the story, Mom,
Please tell it right this minute.
But, this time, Mother, could you tell
The story WITH ME IN IT?"
And as I heard the story
I pretended I was there,
There in the land called Bethlehem...
Bright stars hung everywhere.
There where the camels walk the streets,
Where the shepherd tends his flodck,
Where bearded men in flowing robes
Sit on the steps to talk.
I thought I saw blue Galilee,
And the sea that they call "Dead."
And did I see the bright new star
Or was it the moon, instead?
I thought I was a shepherd boy
With my sheep on yonder hill,
A tiny lamb beside me...
And oh, the night was still.
When suddenly I saw a light!
I wasn't much afraid,
Because I heard an Angel's song.
"Peace, peace be still," it said.
"Fear not! I bring glad tidings...
Glad tidings of great joy
To all who follow in His light,
Be it king or shepherd boy."
"Come, little Lamb, run fast, run fast!
I have seen a heavenly light!
I have heard a song, and angel song!
And, oh, the world is bright!
Tonight, I saw the sun go down,
Yet the sky is light as day,
And some still sleep in Bethlehem town,
But we must be off and away."
I woke the other shepherds up...
"Do you hear the angels sing?
Do not fear the light as it floods the night.
It's the Birthday of a King!"
The angels came right down to earth
To sing their song of joy.
They told us shepherds of the birth
Of a Tiny Baby Boy.
"Follow the light," the angels sang,
"It will help you find your way
To that wee manger where the Babe
Is cradled in the hay."
We shepherds found the Tiny Child,
Just as the angels said,
A new-born babe in swaddling clothes...
No pillow for His head.
His mattress just a clump of hay,
His bed a lowly manger.
We took our lambs, some milk and cheese
As gifts for the Wee Stranger.
"Here, Baby Jesus, here's my lamb,
The one that I love the best.
And, Jesus, when you're all grown up
I'll give you all the rest."
Then I thought I was a "Wise Boy."
Can a little boy be wise?
Anyway, I helped the Wise Men
As the searched the star-lit skies.
Where they had watched for many a year
From a cave high in a hill.
This night we saw a wond'rous light.
And, oh, the world was still.
"It is the star! He has been born!
Our Saviour, Christ, our King!
Let's hurry! We must find the child."
Had they heard the angel's sing?
So on our camels, three wise men
And a wise boy, making four,
Traveled through the starry night
Over paths unknown before.
Journeyed over desert sand
Bearing gifts fir for a king,
From east to west, to Herod's land.
We had good news to bring!
Again, we saw the bright new star
It gently led the way
To Mary's home, the home of love,
Where Jesus was at play.
I stopped outside the cottage door
Because my heart was sad.
What gift had I to give the child,
To help to make Him glad?
What is a wise child's gift to Him,
Gold, frankincense or myrrh?
Or would He rather have a pet
With soft and cuddly fur?
Or a dandelion from His green field?
Or a shell from His great sea?
Or just the words "I love you,"
From a little child like me?
Did children in America
Behold that wond'rous star?
Did men so wise look to the skies?
Some say they did, what's more,
They say that through that Holy Night
Our land was bright as day.
Birds woke to sing...and it was spring,
In April, so they say.
This Baby grew and He was strong
And beautiful to see.
He learned about all living things
Of earth and sky and sea.
The blossoms brightened where He walked.
He blessed them with His love.
The birds sang sweeter when He talked...
He told the gentle dove
To be a messenger of peace
To all the world, and show
That if a child wants happiness
In God's love he must grow.
How tall He grew...a Mighty Man,
Strong, wiser than the rest.
He said, "Love one another."
He healed and taught and blest.
I led the children to His side.
"Come to Him, everyone!
Have faith and come to Jesus.
Say to Him, 'Thy will be done.'
He will ask the Father's blessings
As He prays for you...and then
If you trust Him without doubting
He will be your constant friend."
He took the children in His arms.
He blessed me...blessed my friends.
"Of such of these my Kingdom is.
God's angels these attend."
"What is your Kingdom, Jesus, dear?
Do you mean your home above?"
"My Kingdom is for everyone
Who walks my way of LOVE."
Now my pretending had to end
When Mother said to me,
"Come dear, the hour is growing late
And we must leave the tree.
But first, I want to tell you
That before He went away
He gave to us a promise
That He would come back to stay.
No one, not even angels know
How He will come, or when,
But probably it wont' be long,
THEN WE'LL HAVE PEACE, AGAIN."
He conquered death to make us know
That nothing ever dies,
The He was resurrected
To ascend into the skies.
Heaven and earth proclaimed the story
When the angels came to say,
"Jesus will come back again,
Just as He went away."
"So hang your stars, my darlings,
Let their radiance shine tonight,
From gilded tree and window pane,
that all children may delight
In every precious promise
That the Christ Child came to bring.
That children of all nations may
LIFT UP THEIR HEARTS AND SING."
(Following are the words to the primary song, and the ending of the poem)
I wonder when He comes again
Will Herald angels sing?
Will earth be white with drifted snow
Or will the world know spring?
I wonder if one star will shine
Far brighter than the rest?
Will day-light stay the whole night through?
Will song birds leave their nests?
I'm sure He'll call His little ones
To gather 'round His knee
Because He said in days gone by,
"Suffer them to come to me."
I wonder when He comes again,
Will I be ready, there,
To look upon His loving face
And join with Him in prayer?
Each day I'll try to do His will
And let my light so shine
That others seeing me may seek
For greater light, divine.
Then when that blessed day is here
He'll love me, and He'll say,
"You've served me well, my little child."
"Come to my arms to stay."
I wonder when He comes again
Will all the nations bring
Their little children to His arms
To hear the angels sing?
And as they hear His loving voice
And seek His outstretched hand,
Will children of the world rejoice
To finally understand:
That only as we do His will
Can happiness increase,
That love, alone, can make this world
A haven of His peace.
Posts
