'Twas the week before Christmas and on that big night,
I wanted the church play to turn out just right.

When I left the house the car was quite full
Of the small cardboard sheep who had cotton for wool.

Great Grandma Thelma with the patience of Job,
Had made all the angels a white cotton robe.

The coat hanger wings with foil I did cap,
For weeks I'd been missing my long Sunday nap.

The angels now glistened with golds, greens and reds,
While halos of tinsel shone over their heads.

The shepherds were dashing all over the place,
The wisemen were getting their beards on their face.

When two of the shepherds made such a clatter
I sprang to their sides to see what was the matter.

The shepherds were dueling, their swords they did clash,
I felt like I might be getting a rash.
 

"Now children," I said, "To the stage we will go."
"Be quiet," I cautioned, "And walk nice and slow."

"You shepherds, don't run," my helper did call,
But quick as a flash they dashed down the hall.

A little girl angel beside me did stand,
Whispered "I love you" as she held to my hand.

Our littlest shepherd so lively and quick,
Came down the aisle with a shepherd's rod stick.

On stage where the little doll Jesus did lay
Was a brown painted manger filled with real hay.

The Bethlehem scene had been placed there with care,
Because all the parents and friends would be there.

The hills and the town, with the stars at the top,
Had been painted on sheets from the second hand shop.

There with a twinkle right over the stable
Was a bright yellow star hung on a cable.

As she sat by the manger it did appear
Our dear little Mary was frozen with fear.

The small boy Joseph stood tall and polite,
Is this the same kid who just got in that fight?

The shepherds were standing so quiet and still,
Watching the sheep in front of the hill.

Our littlest angel was chubby and plump,
But one of the angels looked just like a grump.

Then out of the Bible the narrator read
Of the star in the east that to Jesus led.

The young teenage reader, her voice not too loud,
Looked humble and scared as she surveyed the crowd.

Then out of the Bible the narrator read
Of the star in the east that to Jesus led.

The young teenage reader, her voice not too loud,
Looked humble and scared as she surveyed the crowd.

"Away in a Manger," the children did sing,
The news of the Christ child the angels did bring.

The shepherds came over to Bethlehem town,
"Move over," One hollered as they all knelt down.

"Now boys," I whispered, my hands on my hips,
And I put my finger up to my lips.

Down the church aisle the wisemen they came,
With a camel of cardboard who was just a bit lame.

The little gray donkey and the jolly fat cow
Were watching the wise men before the babe bow.

He was wrapped in a blanket from his head to his foot.
The wisemen came up and their treasures they put
In front of the manger, and as he knelt down,

One of our wisemen then lost his gold crown.

He was little and cute, and looked like an elf
And I smiled when I saw him, in spite of myself.

He looked up at me with a bit of a smirk,
Picked up his crown and then knelt with a jerk.

The children were singing their voices so merry
Who's singing off tune, did that noise come from Harry?

"Oh, Lord, help these children and live in their hearts,"
I prayed, as I watched them all play their parts.

The narrator stopped, the story was done
Of how God that first Christmas had sent us His Son.

I peeked 'round the corner, the audience below
Looked happy, their smiling faces aglow.

The children looked happy, their play was complete,
They knew that they'd soon get brown sacks with a treat.

Though I knew that in just a few minutes more,
I'd be down on my knees getting hay off the floor,

When I looked at their faces and saw every smile
I knew that the work had all been worthwhile.

And the children sang loud, now over their fright,
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."