If I Were There

I don’t think there is any great mystery about this poem.
It is my poor attempt at a poem of praise to the Savior of mankind.
For several years one of my favorite songs has been “Were you there?”.
I sing it to myself frequently and it has caused me to think, “What if I were there?”.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
5 December 2024

If I Were There

If I were there when Christ was born to see his face in the early morn
When the heavens sang with loud acclaim Hosannas to His holy name.

If I were there, would I kneel to Him and sing his praise in a quiet hymn
Or with the angels shout His praise and give thanks to God in glorious lays.

If I were there and saw the star and walked the path though very far,
Would I bring Him incense, myrrh, or gold, as stories of the time have told?

If I were there that holy night and saw the manger bathed in light,
And saw the shepherds kneel to Him who came to save the world from sin?

If I were there, would I know Him more if I stood inside the stable door,
Than I know Him now in humble prayer as I kneel beside my bedroom chair?

Would I know Him more in Bethlehem than when I sing my song of Him?
My faith is not on what I see. The Spirit whispers it to me.

On Christmas day I sing His praise and to His name my voice I’ll raise.
To Him, was born upon this day in Bethlehem so far away.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
5 December 2024