by Pat Severin

Have you ever wondered what teenage Mary thought
The day the angel came to her? I think that she was caught
Off guard, I’m sure, as maybe she was merely cleaning house
And as she did, perhaps, she dreamed of Joseph as her spouse.
She had to be surprised and shocked, did she believe her ears?
How could she comprehend this thing, a child herself in years? And..

Have you ever wondered what Joseph really thought
When learning Mary was with child? But in a dream You taught
Him of his role in Jesus’ birth, how much would be expected.
Said he would play a vital part and was by You elected
To be the earthly Father of His Son, the promised One,
The longed for precious Savior who’d redeem us, everyone? And...

Have you ever wondered why His birth came quietly,
So humbly in a cattle shed though glorious was He?
Was not the Father’s purpose to show those for whom he came,
The lowly poor, the wealthy, too, all people just the same?
For Jesus came to save us all, this world that God created,
Announced to shepherds from the sky, this Child so long awaited? And...

Have you ever wondered why His birth gets overshadowed
By Christmas trappings in first place that leave His name unhallowed?
I do, I wonder why this Child who came the world to save,
Is often just forgotten and replaced because we crave
Those things we want and think we need, the presents that we give
Take precedence to Christ, who gave us all a chance to live.

So at this blessed Christmas, may you ponder all these things
And recognize the Christmas Child is why the season brings
The gift of Love in that small babe, who came that Christmas night,
Brought God to us in human form and so the world put right.

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Pat Severin is a retired Christian school teacher who serves her Lord in many ways. These have included school, church and teen ministries and her current personal ministry of creating cards that include her original poems of encouragement. These she sends out weekly to those going through difficult life struggles. 

In addition to her Christian poetry contributions to the Agape Review, she has been published in the Clay Jar Review, Thewayback2ourselves, and Pure in Heart Stories, which features Christian poetry and stories for children. She has been published in many of the Southern Arizona Press Anthologies, in the book called I Chose You: Imperfectly Perfect Rescue Dogs and their Humans and will be featured in the upcoming book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons I Learned from My Dog. Pat is a member of SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book writers and Illustrators.