December 15, 2013
Vol. 16, Issue 4
Vol. 16, Issue 4
It’s all about…The Lamb
Maude Carolan Pych/Quarterly Poetry Letter
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” Rev 5:12 NASB
It’s all about…The Lamb is a quarterly publication for lovers of the Holy Lamb of God, who also enjoy poetry. The purpose is to magnify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and inspire an ever-deepening relationship with Him, the lover of our souls…
THE LAMB:
My favorite bedtime song to sing to my grandchildren is the words of William Blake’s famous poem, “The Lamb”. They ask me to sing it. Some of them know the words and sing along. I’ve printed the poem below. You can also find it being sung on YouTube.
THE LAMB
Little lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed,
By the stream and o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight
Softest clothing, wooly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice;
Little lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Little lamb I’ll tell thee,
Little lamb I’ll tell thee;
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek and he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are both called by His name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
By William Blake
Jesus is the dear little Lamb Who was born in Bethlehem. I’ve heard it said that it is likely He was born in springtime (not December 25th) at the same time lambs were being born in the fields. We know Jesus died as the Passover lambs were being sacrificed and “as a sheep before shearers is silent” He became the ultimate sacrifice, the Passover Lamb.
It’s important to be mindful of Good Friday even at Christmastime.
A few poets and friends will get together at my home during the holidays to celebrate the birth of Our Savior by reading poems of the season and having a simple potluck supper and homemade Christmas cookies for dessert. The last batch of cookies came out of the oven a few hours ago.
TWO CHRISTMAS POEMS:
I have many Christmas poems and will share two with you now. The first is entitled “Before the Journey”. I wrote it this year and mailed it as my greeting card this season. The other is “The Gift Bearers” and is about the magi. The latter is included in my chapbook, “From My Heart to Yours at Christmas: Cookies & Poems”. (Ordering information appears at the end of the blog.)
+ + + THE POEMS FOLLOW + + +
BEFORE THE JOURNEY
Sitting quietly in the dim glow of an oil lamp
trying to get comfortable
in the sturdy wooden arm chair
made by her carpenter husband
Mary rests both hands
upon her taut, round stomach
and smiles at the gentle rumbling within—
The Son of God in utero
Although this is centuries before sonograms
Mary knows her babe is a boy child
and that they are to name Him Jesus—
for an angel told her so
Young and bewildered, she wonders
what her holy Son will look like and be like
if he’ll want to work with wood
She wonders about the cosmic plan
set in motion by her “yes”
and how a savior saves
She dares not dwell too deeply
upon what lies ahead
and why so lowly a maiden as she
would be highly favored
by the Lord her God
but she trusts Him
…and she’s obedient
Joseph is a good man—
She watches as he sands smoothly
the fine cradle he is building
and appreciates that he stands by her
shielding her from questions, innuendos
finger-pointers and gossip mongers
Their donkey is tied outside
the humble dwelling in Nazareth
She hears it braying and nuzzling at the door
It’ll go with them tomorrow
on their journey to Bethlehem
where they must register
for the census
She sighs, thinking of the long
arduous journey
especially in her condition
Well, I’d better get some rest
she tells Joseph
as she rises awkwardly from the chair
and carries the lamp closer
to where her husband is working
I’ve packed a bundle of swaddling clothes
…just in case
Maude Carolan Pych
THE GIFT BEARERS
Cosmic wonders, whats and whys
whirl in the East
as a singular mysterious luminary
beckons in the heavens
Is it brighter than the other stars?
Does it pulsate? Does it bounce?
Does it shoot across the sky
like a flame-tailed comet?
Does its lustrous splendor
rival the glow of the moon?
Gentile magi who study stars and Scripture
see it and curiously mount their camels
to follow it across the desert. But, why?
They say they are seeking
the King of the Jews. Why would they?
They say they want to worship Him
Why Him?
What do they know that the High Priest
the Pharisees, Sadducees
and all the Jews of Jerusalem
who are awaiting the coming of Messiah
do not comprehend?
King Herod summons them, diabolically
Feigns sincere interest in their mission
urges them to return with details
so he, too, may worship the King
A sinister plot forms in his evil mind
for even he knows…
there is something about that star…
Continuing on
the irresistible starlight shines ahead
until it shimmers above a humble house
in the village of Bethlehem
It stops, still…absolutely still
The magi realize they are at
destiny's door
They knock
and are welcomed, when
Suddenly
their eyes behold
a Boy Child
and their hearts leap!!!
and whether it makes sense or not
(whether any of this makes sense or not)
the magi, in rich array
fall prostrate
on the earthen floor
and fill the little house
with Hallelujahs!!!
They draw from their saddlebags, treasures…
Gold…for surely this little family can use it
Myrrh…fragrant foreshadow of suffering
Frankincense…for a sensing in the depths
of their God-given wisdom
of a significant anointing
somewhere in time
Mission complete
the gift bearers mount their camels
and still attentive to God's spirit
(this time in a dream)
do not return to Herod
The magi…
diligent seekers who found
Treasure
infinitely more valuable
than the precious gifts they bore
Maude Carolan Pych
Comments are always welcome and appreciated.
Look for the next edition of It’s All About…The Lamb, March 15, 2014
A FEW CLOSING WORDS…
Dear Reader/Subscriber,
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a holy Christmas centered upon Jesus, the precious Lamb Who came to save us…and a very healthy & blessed New Year as well.
God be with ewe,
Maude
After God’s Own Heart Publishing
P.O. Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424
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