# A Christmas Prayer explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

A Christmas prayer invoking the peaceful and patient animals present at the Nativity, asking the Christ Child to grant humanity similar virtues of peace, patience, quietness, and strength, and to remind all that they belong to the Father.

## Themes in this chapter

### Childhood and Innocence

The Christ Child and the gentle animals evoke a state of innocent peace and simplicity.

### Redemption and Grace

The prayer asks for 'glad repentance' and a seat at the Father's hearth, symbolizing grace and reconciliation.

## Character check-ins

### Jesus Christ

Addressed as the Christ Child, whose birth brings repentance and a seat at the Father's hearth.

### God

Referred to as the Father, whose knee is the seat of belonging.

## Key lines

> Loving looks the large-eyed cow, Loving stares the long-eared ass At Heaven’s glory in the grass!

The cow and the ass gaze lovingly at the divine presence revealed in the humble stable.

_The animals recognize the sacredness of the moment, emphasizing nature's awareness of divine glory._

> Make us peaceful as thy cow; Make us patient as thine ass; Make us quiet as thou art now; Make us strong as thou wilt be.

Grant us the cow's peace, the donkey's patience, the infant's stillness, and the strength you will grow into.

_The prayer asks for virtues embodied by the nativity scene: peace, patience, quietness, and future strength._

> Make us always know and see We are his as well as thou.

Help us always remember that we belong to God just as you do.

_Affirms the shared divine parentage and belonging of all humanity with Christ._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/a-christmas-prayer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters