A poem for Christmas Eve

One Christmas Eve, a few years ago now, I happened to be kneeling at the end of the bench in church and could see down the aisle to the crib, which was set up under the altar.
An image of the real stable came into my mind along with the first line of this poem, which just seemed to grow from there.

The Stable

I saw the straw
Rough trodden, dirty brown upon the floor
Of the stable.

My eyes would rise
No further, saw the manger where he lies
The newborn child.

They meet to greet
Their Saviour, who has come into a world
Made numb with fear,
Yet peace is here.

And we shall see
That all our lives are waiting for this child
Though meek and mild
Our Lord and Love 
And life is He.

PS
Yesterday morning, Tuesday 6th January, the feast of The Epiphany, I sang this poem to a tune which, rather like the poem itself, just seemed to flow from the words.
I recorded it on video and hope to have it on U-tube (with the assistance of son no.2) for anyone who would like to hear it. My user-name is jansinging and I called it 'A carol for Epiphany'.

About three special lives: Part 2

Our little grandson, Dominic, was born with a metabolic disorder and died when he was 11 months old, having spent the last few weeks of his life on a ventilator.

When we visited him on the morning of the day he died, he was lying in the middle of a water-bed which the hospital had hired to make him more comfortable, which was so moving. 
When he died, the doctor and nurses were visibly upset and had tears in their eyes. I will always treasure the great privilege I had of holding him while the nurses helped me to put on his special clothes.
All that effort for one small baby boy surely shows the true value of all human life.

My abiding thought about Dominic's life was that through every second of it, he was loved, cherished and treasured. How many people can say that, no matter how long they live.

He's always remembered; his photo hangs on our walls, precious memories of a most beloved child.