The next entry for my Blog is One Small Child, which was written by David Meece. It was first released in 1977. A link to Evie singing the song is at the bottom of the Blog.
One small child in a land of a thousand
One small dream of a savior tonight
One small hand reaching out to the starlight
One small savior of life, ooh
One king bringing his gold and riches
One king ruling an army of might
One king kneeling with incense and candlelight
One king bringing us life, ooh
See him lying a cradle beneath him
See him smiling in the stall
See his mother praising his father
See his tiny eyelids fall
See the shepherds kneeling before him
See the kings on bended knee
Oh, see the mother praising the father
See the blessed infant sleep
One small child in a land of a thousand
One small dream of a savior tonight
One small hand reaching out to the starlight
One small savior of life, ooh
This post is being written during the Christmas season since I believe it carries the true meaning of Christmas. During the Christmas season and perhaps other holiday seasons, the true message of the song is lost amongst the glitz and glitter of the ongoing celebrations. It is easy to enjoy singing along with these wonderful celebratory songs since they usually make us happy and think about holidays of the past. I believe this song brings us back to the reality of what Christmas is truly all about, which is celebrating the birth of Christ.
On that very special night long ago, the son of God was born. He was only one of thousands of children being born that same night, so he wasn’t anything special to those outside of his mom and dad. The fact that he was born and was lying in a manger diminished his perceived worth to the world even more. Think about the people who were staying at the inn where there was no room for Jesus, what was their initial impression of the baby lying in the manger which normally held food for the livestock? They probably thought that this child had no hope in life and would probably end up a beggar in the streets, just as so many of the poor they saw in the city streets every day. The tiny infant raises its hands to the stars, maybe to reach out to Mary his mother, or perhaps to his father in heaven. Little did anyone know that this little baby would be the savior of the world. It is true that the angel told Mary about her son before he was born, but taking that head and heart knowledge and applying it to this little baby had to be a difficult task.
After a period of time the wisemen/kings arrived from the far east. To get there while the baby was still there meant the kings had been notified of the birth perhaps many months earlier since they came from far away. There are songs about the three kings/wisemen and the gifts they brought to the son of God. They brought gold, incense, myrrh, and also brought the power they represented. Just imagine how Mary the mother of Jesus and Joseph his earthly father felt when the kings arrived. They may have never been really close to a king and the king they did know was not necessarily a kind one. They are probably in awe of the kings and then overwhelmed when the kings knelt before this tiny little baby. Who is he that would be worshipped and revered by powerful kings? As I mentioned above, even though Mary was told her child would the son of God and a savior to the world, it still had to be a very humbling experience.
I can just imagine this tiny infant, the savior of the world, looking up at the kings hovering above him and giving them a smile of joy. Sometimes a simple smile can tell more than words can ever express. Mary is watching all of this in awe. She sees her son, the son of God, lying there with a beautiful smile on his face; all she can do is look to his heavenly father and let her heart relay her joy and amazement. She knew that words could never express what her heart felt as she looked up to the heavens. As she looked back down to the new born king, she saw his eyes slowly closing. Just think about how she must have felt knowing that the God of all creation had given her the most precious gift imaginable.
The song now reminds us that the shepherds were already there since they were the first to be notified of the birth of Christ. In the book of Luke chapter 2, we find that the shepherds were notified of the birth by angels, “There were shepherds taking care of their flocks at night. An angel appeared to them and told them not to be afraid as he brought good news, “This very day in David’s town your savior was born – Christ the Lord!” They would find the baby wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger.” They were viewed as some of the lowliest people by others, but God knew their true worth and let them be the first people to visit his son. As a result, some of the most powerful people were joined by some of the lowliest people to be the first to see our savior. I think it sends the message that Jesus was born for everyone; the poor, the lowly, the powerful, the humble, and the outcasts. All are represented and kneeling before their savior, our savior as Mary is praising God. What a way for God to start the life of his son, a loving family and all walks of life bowing before him.
What do you think about at Christmas? I know that being with family is important and I know that all of us like gifts; but are you taking the time to think about the true meaning of Christmas and give Jesus his time? When Christmas if over, does Jesus get boxed up and put away with the Christmas decorations, or does he stay in your life and your heart all year long? All I ask is that you take a little time and consider the question I posed.
Click to Hear Evie Sing One Small Child
