'Tho A Stranger

I was impressed that those who came to see the babe in the manger were strangers to the family; they were shepherds from the fields. Yet Mary and Joseph let them come in to the stable and see the child. We don't do that with our newborns - we wouldn't tolerate that. But then, this was a different kind of child. And that thought inspired this poem.

If you were a shepherd you'd come too,
Leaving the sheep on the hill where they lay;
His parents would let you, 'tho a stranger, come in
And worship the child, and kneel on the hay.

If you were a wise man, you'd come too,
And follow the star by night and by day;
His parents would let you, 'tho a stranger, come in
And worship the child, and kneel on the hay.

But you're just who you are - you come too,
And make your way to the manger today;
His Father will let you, 'tho a stranger, come in
And worship His Son and kneel on the hay.

~Nick Bowen