A Christmas Prayer

She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity,

Convinced every word was revelation.
She said;
They were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat
and they went a long way from home without getting lost.
The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady.
They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass
but the Three Rich Men found them because a star lighted the roof.
Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them.
Then the baby was borned. And do you know who he was?
Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars.

The baby was God.

And she jumped in the air, whirled round, dove into a sofa,
and buried her head under the cushion
which is the only proper response to
the Good News of the Incarnation.

By John Shea, The Hour of the Unexpected

Joy to you this Christmas!

Tamara