I don’t remember being born
Nothing before five
And even then my memory’s patchy
***
I don’t remember when
I stopped believing
It was possible to fly
If I believed enough
***
I remember
I wanted to talk to the animals
And would hold very still
And listen
***
But I don’t remember why
I quieted the child desires
That followed me like the tail of a star
From heaven
***
But it doesn’t really matter
Because when I gave You my heart
You gave it back to me
With all its child desires intact
***
And I remembered
The power of purity
And saw another star with a tail
Shining over the place
Which you had chosen
With animals and flying people all around
***
Thank you for this
Beautiful birth
Sweet Jesus
***
— by Summer Kelly Pixton
“Nativity” by Brian Kershisnik
This poem, written by my sister and this painting by one of my favorite artists, Brian Kershisnik, are two of my most favorite expressions of love for the Savior and his miraculous birth.
I would like to add my testimony to Summer’s and Brian’s.
Sometimes I cannot believe that the creator of the earth and sky came to here to this place, to our corner of the universe, in a tiny baby body. That his sweet mother held him next to her, looked into his eyes and for a moment he belonged only to her. That he would leave his majestic throne to become completely vulnerable, a babe in arms; to take on flesh, in the same manner that we do, so that he could understand what we go through, so that he could succor us, and ultimately save us – is miraculous beyond words.
I know it happened. I know it in the deepest part of me. I don’t just hope it happened. I know it happened.The evidence of his existence is all around me. His love is a constant force in my life. I know he was born. I know he lived, and died, and that he lives today.
I love him and am grateful to him. Grateful for his birth. Grateful for his life. Grateful for his atoning sacrifice. Grateful for his mercy, his patience, and his boundless love.
December 25th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
so sweet and sincere Liza! Love it, thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!
December 25th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
What a great pairing — Summer’s poem and Brian’s painting. And your testimony. You could have added your little girl poem…remember after your bath, clean and fresh in your pajamas you sang these words that bubbled out of you:
If we did not have this man,
If we did not have this Jesus,
We would only have space,
And space is not a land.
He is the handsome One who could not lie.
Christmas is a happy day. Tonight we are particularly happy because Samantha has her letter in hand. The letter that gives her her freedom, that gives her her future.
Thanks for sharing your English Christmas with us.
December 27th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Those are two of my favorite Christmas things, too! I’m not sure if I even told Summer, but last year in my English class we had to choose one of our favorite poems to recite, and I chose this one of Summer’s. I also read a poem by Yates, but it did not get the same reaction. There is something so magical about both Summer’s poem – it captures so perfectly that funny, beautiful, mysterious “something” that comes with being a child.