Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Repost: Away in the Manger... simplified!

First posted at Blogging Along on December 3, 2009


My little girl just started to really sing songs with me. She sings "Away in a Manger" beautifully...and has just started asking questions about the words....

...how my heart thrills to be able to point her to why we celebrate Christmas...Christ's birth!!

Away in a Manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head
Sweet Girl: Mommy, what's a manger?
Me: It's a place where animals eat hay. Like here...in our nativity...see all the straw? (Personally, I love that Willowtree has Mary holding the baby, but I was really wishing that Jesus was in an actual manger at this moment.) Baby Jesus was born in a stable or barn...because all the houses were full of people...and there was no room except in the barn.

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

Sweet Girl: Hay looks scratchy! It makes me itchy!!
Me: I'm sure that Jesus' mother, Mary, took good care of him. The Bible says she wrapped him in swaddling clothes! That's soft clothes...just like the blankies you use for your dollies.
The cattle are lowing
The poor baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes.

Sweet Girl: Mommy...what's lowing?
Me: It's another word for mooing...the noises cows make. Cattle are cows!
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
Til morning is nigh.

Sweet Girl: Mom...what's nigh mean?
Me: Nigh means near...the song is praying that Jesus would stay close all night long...even until morning comes!
Sweet Girl: Yes, God takes care of me when I sleeps...
Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me, I pray

Bless all the dear children
In thy tender care
And fit us for heaven
To live with thee there.

I love that this says "fit us" for heaven...as we work out our faith in fear and trembling. I tremble with excitement when she asks me about God's Word and His amazing gift...but also I tremble with fear...of God's Word and I seek His guidance to tell her correctly what she needs to know!

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