Which Christmas carol?

If I were to ask you which Christmas carol the following line come from, would you know the correct answer?

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes

That line did, of course, come from the well known carol, ‘Away In A Manger’. Here’s the words of the full carol.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
 
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
 
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

You may well be wondering why I asked you this rather random question today, well here’s why – I was with a number of people, when the above question was asked. Looking around them as the question was asked, and then when the answer was given, I was surprised by how many people didn’t know the answer to this question.

‘Away In A Manger’ is a carol which I feel I’ve known since I was a small child, having learnt it at Sunday school and probably sang it at school services as well. It seemed strange, and a little sad that people didn’t seem to know the answer – Many seemed to know they knew the words, but not necessarily which carol the words came from.

I wonder it long it has been since they sang any carol? And in turn, I wonder if they have considered the reason we celebrate Christmas?

In an odd way, it was a reminder to me once again of just how many people don’t know the words of a well known Christmas carol, but actually how many people don’t know about God’s love for them, and haven’t accepted God into their heart. Please pray for all who don’t know the true reason we celebrate Christmas.