Our Lady of Deliverance, Empress of China, Beitang Cathedral, circa 1920
Some Children See Him
Some children see him dark, some light,
The baby Jesus, born this night.
Some children see him dark, some light,
A child as dear as they.
Some children see him black or brown,
The Lord of heav’n to earth come down,
Some children see him black or brown,
Sweet Jesus in the hay.
When children look into his eyes,
They see themselves without surprise.
They taste his love, they recognize
His innocence and grace.
These children see him, and adore
Our Savior whom we kneel before.
These children see him, and adore
His wondrous, holy face.
When children look at him they see
The loving eyes of family,
His face reflecting theirs, and he—
Their brother, and their friend.
When children see this tiny one,
This holy infant, God’s own son,
Whose life, like theirs, has just begun,
They see, in him, a friend.
To every child, Jesus calls,
“Come unto me! Come one and all.”
His shelt’ring arms enfold them all
In mercy without end.
The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus’s face
Like theirs, but bright with heav’nly grace
And filled with holy light
Oh, lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering
Come worship now the Infant King.
‘Tis love that’s born tonight.
—Wihla Hutson (1901-2002) and Julie Berry (b. 1974)
“Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow” —African-American Spiritual, arr. Adam Shulman