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The Story the Stars are Retelling

—to the tune of ‘Sterling’

When burdens are heavy and Christmas is near
And faraway star luster barely appears,
Tomorrow’s prediction of rain with a chill
Won’t drown the afflictions that cling to us still.

The darkness we see all around through our pain
Oppresses with misery’s hopeless refrain.
Lord, open our ears, let us hear from the heights
The story the stars are retelling tonight.

__The lonely won’t always in solitude cry,
__The grieving with sorrow won’t evermore sigh,
__This suffering someday will be left behind;
__For Jesus will heal everything in His time.

Did Bethlehem shepherds grow weary when they
Kept sheep overnight to protect them from prey?
They didn’t expect to hear songs in the sky,
But Heaven broke through claiming, “Glory on high!”

What could it mean that Christ the Savior was born?
How could a new birth help the weary and worn?
But if darkness that night could be shattered with light
The broken can heal when their faith becomes sight.

__The lonely won’t always in solitude cry,
__The grieving with sorrow won’t evermore sigh,
__This suffering someday will be left behind;
__For Jesus will heal everything in His time.

For many, dear Jesus, this season is bleak,
Please touch them with Truth, let their ears hear You speak
Through tokens You gave us and promises made,
The witness of stars, and the bread which we break.

When deafening quiet and merciless grief
Intimidate souls like a ravenous thief,
Let hope blaze in darkness like stars beaming bright
And stories that they are retelling tonight.

__The lonely won’t always in solitude cry,
__The grieving with sorrow won’t evermore sigh,
__This suffering someday will be left behind;
__For Jesus will heal everything in His time.

.

.

Gigi Ryan is a wife, mother, grandmother, and home educator. She lives in rural Tennessee.

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16 Responses

  1. Peg

    What HOPE we have in Him! Such beautifully expressed Truth here.
    Thank you, Sister…

    Reply
  3. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Gigi, how beautiful and appropriate for Christmas. I was particularly taken by the alliterative line, “Let hope blaze in darkness like stars beaming bright…” How inspired and inspiring to us. Your poems are always precious to me with feeling.

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Roy,
      Thank you for your encouraging comment. May the hope of Christmas bring you great joy this season!
      Gigi

      Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Luanne,
      That what touches me deeply and encouraged me to write has touched my reader deeply as well means so much to me. Thank you for saying so.
      Gigi

      Reply
  5. Mark Stellinga

    Well done, Gigi, a perfect piece to encounter with Christmas this near – and ‘lyrics’ to boot!! Merry X-mas –

    Reply
  6. Peg

    I hope you don’t mind my commenting again. I wanted to tell you that I have shared your poem. Particularly with a friend who just lost her daughter to a drug overdose, she will be encouraged!

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Peg,
      I’m happy to hear from you again. And what a privilege to have my poem passed along to someone who is going through hard times. Thank you. I do pray she is encouraged.
      Gigi

      Reply
  7. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Your words tap into the very heart of Christmas, Gigi, with a message of hope in an age of despair. Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you!

    Reply
  8. Gigi Ryan

    Dear Susan,
    Thank you for your comment. It is indeed an age of despair that needs the Hope of all hopes.
    Merry Christmas!
    Gigi

    Reply
  9. Shamik Banerjee

    A perfect Christmas poem, Gigi. What’s amazing about this piece is that the meter is in full concord with the tone of your narration. I think such a fulfilling marriage of meter and words is hard to find. Very well done. I also think setting this piece to music will be a good idea. Merry Christmas to you and your entire family.

    Reply
  10. Gigi Ryan

    Dear Shamik,
    Thank you for this encouraging comment.
    This is a meter I rarely use. I’m glad it seemed fitting to the reader. It does for me, since I have the benefit of singing it as a song in my head when I read it.
    Merry Christmas!
    Gigi

    Reply
  11. Margaret Coats

    “The broken can heal when their faith becomes sight.” A good outline of the necessary conditions. Merry Christmas, Gigi!

    Reply

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