You came to us among the blooms of spring And filled our hearts with newly-planted joy; Your infant eyes toward the sun, they bring The faith and wonder of a little boy. At Christmas, in the cold of winter’s night The Christ awoke among the stars to see The deepest dark, that everlasting light And endless spring be won for you and me.
(for Micah, born Ascension Day 2009)
For Who is like the Lord? Yes, who indeed, Yet glory here with frailty is masked; So in this incarnation we concede That Who is our Lord like? may well be asked. He’s like so many precious little ones Who lay concealed among the reeds within The river; like so many mother’s sons That have no reservation at the inn.
I feared the curse; I feared the labour pain That plagues the daughters (and the sons) of earth; But dreams would come to still my fears again While waiting on the advent of your birth. No messenger from heaven came to me, Yet on one word of promise I could dwell: Lo, I am with you always—may it be, The God who calls Himself Immanuel.
I love you, baby boy, and marvel how Our Lord is mirrored in your flashing eyes; You bear His mark upon your heart and brow, His infant life is in your smiles and cries. May I reflect Him in some little way With sacrificial love and mercy mild, For peace on earth was given Christmas Day When Love incarnate looked on us, and smiled.
Eternal Word, descending and enshrined Within the softness of a baby’s cry; But you, my son, will always bring to mind The day our Lord ascended to the sky; We were not orphaned on the day He rose To heaven’s glories; now He can be near As Mommy’s kiss upon your cheek, as close As light, and swirling snow, and winter cheer. You are my gift, and all good gifts are sent From God the Father, glorious above; And all these gifts a little while are lent As I was given you to hold and love. Now, not one birth we celebrate, but two: The one true good and perfect Gift to men The Father sent to come deliver you, To see you born, and washed and born again.
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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2020
Photographs: Kelly and her husband, Rev. Alex Klages, with their son, Micah.
Two Births
Though faithful mother-love is well, it knows Its own temptation, and can stand at odds With truth, and gilded cradles will oppose The edict You shall have no other gods. One mother, one alone, did what was good In worshipping the baby born to her; One child’s nativity was understood Aright, when blessed with incense, gold, and myrrh.
