TONIGHT HE IS YOURS
Tonight He is yours, Mary.
For this is the hour of His birth.
Count His little toes one by one.
A million mothers have counted newborn baby toes,
A million times before.
Marvel at His baby feet.
Tomorrow He will walk the shores of Galilee,
And there's a long hard hill ahead to climb called Calvary
But tonight He is yours.
See Him curl His tiny fingers around your own.
Out in the darkness of the night.
The deaf, the sick and blind await his touch.
But tonight His little hands are yours, alone.
Tenderly trace the outline of His lips.
Tomorrow flow the words of Life Eternal.
The world awaits the story of the lillies -
But baby lips were made to be caressed.
Touch His birth-wet hair and,
Kiss His soft, warm baby cheek.
Tomorrow the crushing multitudes will
Press and push and reach to
Touch the hem of His garment;
But tonight He is yours.
Hold Him, oh so close, to your heart.
Tomorrow He must be about His Father's business,
And all the world is waiting for salvation.
But tonight He is............................
Listen!
Can you hear the angels singing?
And look! The star's already shining.
Wrap Him in swadling clothes, Mary,
And lay Him in the manger
For shepherd will be knocking at your door.
-Leotha Wade Slagowski-

I read this poem just now and was brought back to Bethlehem and that joyous moment when MY Saviour was born. As a Mother I know how close Heaven is the moment my child is born. There is a reason I cry as I take my baby in my arms for the first time. And the same reason is making me tear up as I think about it now. There must have been so many extra emotions running through Mary's heart when Jesus was born. She knew who he was, why he was on the earth. And I know that she shed tears because her baby was born perfectly and heaven was there. Just like I do. Mary, thank you for bringing MY Saviour into the world. Thank you for sharing with me the story of his birth and making Christmas possible. Merry Christmas!