The Hands That First Held Mary's Child/Thomas Troeger

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The hands that first held Mary’s child were hard from working wood.

From boards they sawed and planed and filed

and splinters they withstood.

This day they gripped no tool of steel, they drove no iron nail,

but cradled from the head to heel

our Lord, newborn and frail.

When Joseph marveled at the size of that small breathing frame,

and gazed upon those bright new eyes

and spoke the infant’s name,

the angel’s words he once had dreamed poured down from heaven’s height,

and like the host of stars that beamed

blessed earth with welcome light.

“This child shall be Emmanuel, not God upon the throne,

but God with us, Emmanuel, as close as blood and bone.”

The tiny form in Joseph’s palms confirmed what he had heard,

and from his heart rose hymns and psalms for heaven’s human word.

The tools that Joseph laid aside a mob would later lift

and use with anger, fear, and pride to crucify God’s gift.

Let us, O Lord, not only hold the child who’s born today,

but charged with faith may we be bold to follow in His way.