In far away Bethlehem one special night,
tired shepherds watched over their sheep.
Then the sky was suddenly filled with light,
and the shepherds awoke from their sleep


"Good news I bring you," the bright angel said,
"news that will fill you with joy:
In Bethlehem-town, in a dark cattle shed,
is born a brand-new baby boy.

"This child is the Christ, the Savior of all.
He'll be in a warm manger bed,
wrapped in soft clothes, this baby so small,
with straw to pillow his head."

Then suddenly angels filled the whole sky,
singing God's glory and praise.
"Peace upon earth," came their song from on high.
The shepherds stood watching, amazed.

Then, in a twinkling, the angels were gone.
The night grew cold and still.
But the shepherds remembered the heavenly song
as they stood on their lonely hill.

"Let's hurry to Bethlehem," one shepherd said,
"to find the holy child."
And, sure enough, there in a manger bed
lay Jesus, sweet and mild.

The little sheeps' "baa" and the doves' soft "coo"
were the baby's lullaby.
The shepherds fell down and worshiped, too,
as a bright star shone in the sky.

"The son of God has been born tonight!"
The shepherds spread the word.
And those who came to see the sight
could hardly believe what they heard.
          
Three wise men in a land far away
saw the beautiful star.
"It tells of a special child born today,"
they said. "We must travel far."

"God has sent us this special light
to guide us on our way.
We'll cross the desert during the night
and rest in the heat of the day."

So by and by, the wise men found
Jesus and Joseph and Mary.
Then the three wise men bowed to the ground
and said, "Take these gifts that we carry."

Gold and sweet perfume they gave,
and thought, "Our gifts are small.
For Jesus came the world to save;
he brings God's love to all."

On Christmas Eve, some people still search
for Mary's baby son.
But he's not in a manger and not in a church.
He lives in everyone.

So when you see a star twinkling bright,
in a crisp, quiet winter sky,
remember the gift God gave that night
and the angels that sang on high.

There's a gift that you can give Jesus, too.
It's not too hard to find.
To each person you see the whole year through,
be loving and gentle and kind.