In 1855 when this hymn was first written in France my great-great grandfather (a rare French protestant) was making his way from Alsace-Lorraine to Patterson, New Jersey. I still have in my upper drawer a very old and undated French Bible handed down from the family. It has always been amazing to me how Hymns (and the Christmas ones we call Carols in particular) have preserved the inheritance of faith from all around the world. I always love playing this carol for our youth to sing in our Christmas program. It is a great opening number as it gets people tapping their feet and almost everyone joins in on the chorus. As I have often said, “The best song to sing is the one they will sing with you!” May you be blessed as you begin to turn your heart, schedule mind and pocketbook towards Christmas!
Christmas
One Winter in the Barn
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn
I remember dark winter mornings in the barn. There the pitch black of the milking stall gave way to the gentle light of a candle stub placed on the beam. The aroma of the hay mixed together with the pungent smell of our Guernsey cow at close quarters. I can still see our cat Kansas City waiting for her small share of milk. The cow snuffed up the dairy mix of ground corn allowing me to do my work and I remember that our Lord came in such a humble place. Though being in God’s form with power, riches and honor He willingly chose to come to Bethlehem’s barn. We do not know for sure that it was winter, yet that night was still surely cold. Cows and sheep, chicken and donkeys haven’t updated since his birth. All was still in that place as the animals slept till the baby cried, the shepherds came and bowed down together with angels to worship Him.

One Christmas Amazed
One Christmas Amazed

There’s a Christmas for Santa
And a Christmas for Elves
And a Christmas for stores
That are filling their shelves
There’s Christmas on TV
And for fresh falling snow
And trees decorated with lights that can glow
But in the midst of the ruckus that is filling our lanes
Is there room for the Child
Who gave Christmas its name?
Is there space at our table for a forgotten lost son?
Is there a place on our lists for someone with no home?
Is there hope in our hearts for the broken and shamed?
Or are we too busy to remember their names?
As you put up your tree then on top place the star
That remembers the kings who came from so far
Who knelt and rejoiced back in old Bethlehem
As they opened their gifts in their worship for Him
Take a moment to pray with a heart full of praise
For on Christmas was born God’s true grace that amazed
Poem One Christmas Amazed by Peter Caligiuri 2016
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