I have worked hard all my life to perfect my craft

To use the gift God gave me to honor Him

To worship and obey the laws of Yaweh the law of our fathers

I have become known and respected by community and kin

At my age I never thought again of family,

But God has willed it. As always, His way not mine

That to Mary, that sweet and wonderful young woman

I would be betrothed and promise to marry in time

But that discovery, oh that surprise

That she was already with child had stunned me

How could I handle this quietly, and send her away?

What should I do? Why me? How can this be?

But that angel, that troubled and wonderful night, Oh that angel

Told me of this great gift of God, told me of wondrous things

A child, the Messiah, who would be born of Mary

Not of my making, but of the Holy Spirit, the angel sings

And tonight, in this place, what wonder, what miracle

All I can find for warmth and safety, a manger, not a room or inn.

And it is here that my wife would choose to bear Him?

The One the angels had told me of? Jesus who’d forgive our sins!

Oh that I could find a better, warmer, cleaner place.

But here I will provide and protect them with my life.

And do as the angels have told me, to name Him Jesus.

For I am but a humble servant now with a Son and a wife.

Oh tonight as I watch and hold Mary and this Child...I wonder

Can I do this? Can I raise Him, can I teach Him of life?

But I do love Him. He of God not me, but is mine to love

And Mary, sweet Mary, forever I will honor my purest wife.

I will be father to Him, and always teach and protect Him

And I will listen to Him as I listened to the angels of God so say

"Marry her, though she is with child" and to travel to Bethlehem,

And now I am told to take them soon to Egypt for a while to stay

Teach Him I will, the ways of my faith, the ways of life

Teach Him I will, the ways of work and skill and manhood

Teach Him I will, the ways of love and compassion

Teach Him I will what I can, and He will teach me of all that is good

So tonight I wonder, tonight I pray

Lord of our fathers show me the way

To love them, to protect them every day

Help me do what I must, and do what You say

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