No snow fell the night that Jesus was born;
no gaily wrapped gifts lay awaiting next morn.
That first Christmas Day dawned unheralded, calm,
to no glorious psalm.
Yet that simple tableau, Holy Mother and Child,
commenced grace everlasting for souls sin-defiled.
With love pure as sunrise, with mercy for all,
God reached out, through a baby, and put forth a call.
Millennia later, midst great celebrations,
distracted by presents and gay decorations,
our focus is blurred as we try to keep sight
of the Babe who was born on that holiest night.
Help us, O God, to refix our gaze
on Bethlehem's miracle during these days.
Give us the wisdom to seek and embrace
your bountiful, free, unconditional grace
for, truly, that blessing bestowed in a stall
is the one perfect gift on this earth for us all.

© by Jayne Jaudon Ferrer.
Used with the author's permission.