I composed this song in 1998 to mark the 10th anniversary of my mom’s death. I badly wanted to write something in her memory, but I think my own sense of urgency about it created a terrible case of writer’s block. Then early that summer, I learned that one of the members of the Carthage Chamber Singers, Jessica Fritz, had just lost her mother to cancer. My heart broke at the thought of someone so young losing their mom – and just by thinking of Jessica’s loss rather than my own, I was able to finally write this song.
This particular recording is from the 1998 Carthage Christmas Festival and features the Lincoln Chamber Singers, with Neil Scharnick and Paul Marchese as soloists.
This song is dedicated to Jessica – and anyone who lost their mother too soon.
We were not there to fully share the mystery in that place
when Mary knelt and first beheld the Infant Jesus’s face.
O to have heard the angels sing! O to have seen the splendid kings!
O to have run with the shepherds there- to kneel at the feet of the Infant fair
and to bask in the light and the warmth of His Mother’s Love.
The walls were worn where Christ was born. The ground was hard and cold.
No trumpet sound – no royal crown – did Christ the Lord behold.
All that little Jesus saw was the shepherds lost in awe
and about them, standing by: Joseph watching with a loving eye
his tiny child and the warmth of His mother’s love.
Mary, young and frightened, finds her fears are lightened.
She begins to understand how she figures in this plan.
In her embrace is Life and Grace, the Savior of us all.
Before this Child so meek and mild, the powers of hell will fall!
Mary holds Him in her arms, sheltering Him from every harm,
hoping, praying that her little boy will know happiness and love and joy.
Mary hopes and she prays and she dreams with a mother’s love …
A love so strong and yet so sweet – a love so full and so complete.
A love that wipes away our tears- that heals our hurts and soothes our fears.
A love that looks into our eyes and sings us gentle lullabies.
A love that sees into our souls – and makes the broken ‘whole.’
We were not there to fully share the mystery in that place
where Mary knelt and first beheld the infant Jesus’ face.
We know not the words she said – in that tiny little shed –
but we see a fleeting glimpse- catch a glimmer or a precious hint of Mary’s love for her Son
by the way you and I have been warmed and fed and held by a Mother’s Love.