That Night

We received a printed poem a few years ago that I framed and have aimed to display each year at Christmas, but because the artwork is brown and black (not red and green) I usually end up putting it back in the box in lieu of more festive-looking decorations. Despite how silly that sounds, I love this poem, so this year I thought I'd share it with you here and hope you enjoy it, too, as you contemplate what Christ's birth means to you....

That Night
(Author unknown)

That night when in the Judean skies
The mystic star dispensed its light,
A blind man moved in his sleep
And dreamed that he had sight.

That night when shepherds heard the song
Of hosts angelic choiring near,
A deaf man stirred in slumber's spell
And dreamed that he could hear.

That night when in the cattle stall
Slept child and mother cheek by jowl,
A cripple turned his twisted limbs
And dreamed that he was whole.

That night when o'er the newborn babe
The tender Mary rose to lean
A loathsome leper smiled in sleep
And dreamed that he was clean.

That night when to the mother's breast
The little King was held secure,
A harlot slept a happy sleep
And dreamed that she was pure.

That night when in the manger lay
The sanctified who came to save,
A man moved in the sleep of death
And dreamed there was no grave.