When Jesus Christ was yet a child,
He had a garden small and wild,
Wherein He cherished roses fair,
And wove them into garlands there.
Now once, as summer time drew nigh,
There came a troop of children by,
And seeing roses on the tree,
With shouts they pluck'd them merrily.
“Do you bind roses in your hair?”
They cried, in scorn, to Jesus there.
The Boy said humbly: “Take, I pray,
All but the naked thorns away.”
Then of the thorns they made a crown,
And with rough fingers press'd it down,
Till on his forehead fair and young,
Red drops of blood, like roses sprung.
During this season of Advent let us pray for the gift of childhood innocence - that children will not be forced to grow up too quickly; rather that they will be allowed to enjoy their all too brief childhood days. It is all too easy for parents and teachers to say 'act your age' or 'grow up'!
Let us also pray for the gift of childhood innocence ourselves as once more we prepare to gaze on the Child in the manger. For Jesus said 'unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'
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