Is it too soon to sing “Away in a Manger”?
When my children were little, I used to sing each one of them a song when I tucked them in. (For those who have heard me ‘sing,’ yes, I know, it could have done great harm to their ears. Once they got older, they politely suggested I read to them instead:).
One night when she was about 4, our eldest daughter, Jackie, sang ME a song:
“Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay,
close by me forever, and love me always.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care
And fit them for heaven to live with thee there.”
I had NEVER heard this stanza of “Away in a Manger,” and at first thought (being the proud mother that I am:), that perhaps she made it up. Then she told me she learned it in pre-school.
This stanza of simple little Christmas hymn has become one of my “go-to” prayers. When a day is getting a little rough, when I am met with insurmountable difficulties, when I hear of sorrows in a dear friend’s life, I pray so very simply, “Be near me [her, him], Lord Jesus…I ask you to stay close by FOREVER.” Even saying the words reminds me that he is indeed near, for God’s nearness as a human is what we celebrate at Christmas.
And as I am blowing my cool because I’m trying to make everyone in a household happy or because I’m worried about my sick dog, it is so good to remember that I don’t even have to ask Jesus to “love me always.” He does — when I’m the Christmas crank or the stubbornly-relenting-repenter.
The prayer reminds me that he is “fitting us for heaven” and that one day we will live eternally in restored shalom of renewed creation. Try it. Sing, ever so softly if you must, but let the breath exhale as you proclaim this little Christmas prayer of adoration and worship of our Savior-Child.
Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
‘Til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
NOTE: In my hymnbook, only three stanzas were listed. When I looked for the lyrics on the internet, I found it broken up differently and a couple of additional ones. Enjoy them all:)!
I love this. Tonight after prayig it I saw your coments. Thanks! MY WIFE WORKED AT nazarene headquarters for 33 years, we have been foser parents, youth mininstrr, children’s pastor, and are both ordsined ministrrs.. i just wsnt to encourage you to keep singing/praying your song!.
Thank you, James. What an encouragement!
My grandma used to just say your child’s version as our nightly prayer. I was googling for that song and ram across your post. Such a sweet blessing and story.
Oh thank you for sharing that sweet story of your grandma with me, Kim!
Dear Elizabeth, My daughter is a kindergarten teacher. School started 3 weeks ago. She had a little 5 year old girl who was a handful in the classroom. (I volunteer in her class.) The little girl also isn’t potty trained. She had to go to the nurse a few times a day and had to be changed. It was embarrassing for her and my daughter would have to call for a change of clothes which the aunt would bring. I worked with the little girl helping with class work learning her ABC’’s. She was so excited to have our attention and started settling into the class. It was wonderful. The principal called the mother a few days ago and suggested she and the nurse figure out a plan to start potty training the little girl. I didn’t go to help today. And just a few minutes ago, my daughter texted and said the mother took her sweet, beautiful, little girl out of school. It made me cry. I started praying and I’ve never done this before and as I was doing it, I thought what are you doing? And what I was doing was writing my prayer on the search bar on the Internet! “Please be with this little Elizabeth.” Then I pressed enter! The first thing I saw was about a song of prayer by a lady’s little girl. The words touched me so much and knew the Lord wanted me to read it and know He is with little Elizabeth! I didn’t notice who wrote the story, which is weird, but after I felt comforted by the songs words, I went back to see the author’s name. I was stunned!!! ELIZABETH ✝️🙌🏻❤️
Thank you, Elizabeth God blessed me though your sharing and I will keep the song as my prayer too! God is SO GREAT!!!
What a beautiful story, Susan! I love how the Lord connects us all at just the right times to encourage us. How precious that you are praying for this precious little one. I know you are a great encouragement to your daughter in the classroom as well!