A Christmas Poem: Holding the Love of God

Holding the Love of God

(Mary holding her child for the first time)

So short it seems when

a whisper from beyond

told me of

your coming

Now I hold you in my arms

for your only

cradle is one

meant for animals

Such a beginning should

not surprise me

but it does

for words cannot

hold all of this

My pain to give you birth

is a sweet joy

for I hold you now

 but for a time

and now time

will hold you

for all time

O child of promise

what can I give

you more than

I already have?

I offered my innocence

in trust to a God

whose surprises

seem endless

but now I hold you

in my arms

and in my heart

Your deep dark eyes hold

starlight that seems

to peer into

my soul

But then you are from

a place beyond my imagining

I am your mother, dear one,

and as you grow

into your life

you will discover

who your father

is

For now,

feel the love I

have for you,

O child of

the manger,

At least tonight

you are mine

I will share you later

for I must…

For now I hold you

for me

Listen, O God,

at least for this

precious moment

your world

must wait