# Christmas Prayer explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

A humble prayer inviting Christ into a cold, poor heart, comparing it to the stable in the rock and promising transformation into a divine temple.

## Themes in this chapter

### Redemption and Grace

The heart's transformation from lowly stable to divine fane through Christ's presence.

### Love as Ultimate Strength

The invitation for Christ to enter and cause the heart to grow and shine like ruby and diamond.

## Character check-ins

### Jesus Christ

Implored to enter the speaker's heart, which is likened to a stable in the rock.

### Unknown

The speaker whose heart is cold, poor, and low, seeking divine indwelling.

## Key lines

> Cold my heart, and poor, and low, Like thy stable in the rock; Do not let it orphan go, It is of thy parent stock!

My heart is cold, poor, and lowly, like the stable where you were born; do not abandon it as an orphan, for it comes from your own family.

_The speaker acknowledges the heart's humble state and pleads for Christ's recognition of their shared lineage._

> Come thou in, and it will grow High and wide, a fane divine; Like the ruby it will glow, Like the diamond shine!

If you enter, my heart will expand into a grand, holy temple, glowing like a ruby and shining like a diamond.

_The promise of transformation and radiance through Christ's indwelling presence._

## Links

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