My Son, Farewell

Christmas Voices:

The Father

My Son

Farewell.

A body I've prepared for You

in Mary

Jewish girl

betrothed to Joseph

Jewish carpenter.

You who have been with Me

from everlasting days

who with me made all things

including earth and man

and Mary

tonight become a creature vulnerable

baby most helpless.

The swirling cloud

takes you to her

through darkest night.

I send an angel army to protect

proclaim your birth.

You'll grow

and spend a few days' light

then darkest noon

and You'll return.

I'll have the dust of earth

virgin's fruit

at my right hand

forevermore.

Tonight I joy

that you delight to do my will

take God-sized step

to earth and womb

and tree.

My Son, Farewell.

I hear a baby's cry.

Poem by Joseph Bayly, from the book A Voice in the Wilderness, published in 2000 by Cook Communication Ministries. Used by permission of Mary Lou Bayly.

Baby Jesus painting by Deborah Woodall.