Once when darkness hovered deep
The Godhead planned our souls to keep
True Light shone bright and did not sleep
Until all that exists He created

Once when He promised Abraham
Then provided the sacrificial ram
To foreshadow the coming atonement Lamb
God prospered his many kindred

Once His kingdom under David rose
Then later evil did prophets expose
The heart of mankind only God knows
And the solution He provided

Once men from afar knew prophecy
And with their own eyes longed to see
The Savior who would set us free
This child in a manger bed

Once when flocks to shepherds cling
The advent of Emmanuel our King
Radiant hosts of Heaven sing
In the vast skies overhead

Once upon a desert night
A singular star shone heavenly bright
To mark the way, the truth, the light
For these wise ones divinely led

Once to us a child was born
But soon His flesh be bruised and torn
Those He loved would weep and mourn
As for our sins Jesus bled

Once with God’s help at morning dawn
Darkness from the Light withdrawn
Fear and hopelessness now gone
And death be forever defeated

Now nothing can separate God’s grace
And love from those who truth embrace
Knowing Jesus prepared a place
By this hope we’ll ne’er be misled  

We celebrate when He first came
At Christmastime we praise His name
Jesus will return His own to claim
As in the Scriptures He said

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Linda L. Kruschke is the author of My Name Is Beloved, winner of the Unpublished Memoir category of the Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest, as well as a self-published author of two poetry books. She is a wife, mother, active member of her church, former Bible Study Fellowship leader, and recovering lawyer. She works as the Director of Legal Publications for the Oregon State Bar. But her real passion is sharing God’s healing grace with others, especially those haunted by sexual trauma and abortion. She struggled with major clinical depression for many years, but through the power of forgiveness has become a fearless follower of Christ, living in the assurance of her salvation and God’s love. She blogs at Another Fearless Year and Broken Believers.