It was getting late in the day when I asked Agnes to write the three letters to Jesus on behalf of our family for our Christmas and Epiphany Tea. I told her my vision for the project, rattling off the top of my head something akin to the sample I posted here yesterday. She said, "Sure, Mom," and returned 45 minutes later with these, each separate letter written in careful script with a line drawing of the individual Wise Man kneeling before the Infant to offer his gift.
Letter Number One:
Dear Jesus,
Melchior brought
His gift of gold
For he had legions
Of wealth untold.
But You were poor
And had nought but rags
And a stable to shut out the cold.
So do we give
The gold that we make
Away to the Church
For Your people's sake.
And with Your help,
May we not withhold
From those that You love
The least scrap of our Gold.
Letter Number Two:
Dear Jesus,
Caspar was wise
And he knew not to bring
A gift that was meant
For an earthly king.
He neither gave livestock,
Nor clothing, nor wine--
He gave you a gift
That was for the Divine.
May all that we offer--
Our thoughts and our prayers--
Rise to heaven like incense
For all of our years.
To Thee do we cry, Lord,
For You we are yearning--
May the incense we offer You
Never stop burning.
Letter Number Three:
Dear Jesus,
As Balthazar watched
A tear came to his eye--
How could he tell Mary
Her Son would soon die?
He knew of the sorrow
It would give to her.
He spoke not a word
Yet he offered You myrrh.
As, surrounding the manger,
We witness Your birth,
Let us offer our sorrow
As well as our mirth.
When You leave the world
It will be a great loss--
Perhaps, by our pains,
We can lighten Your cross.
Baby Jesus was not the only one to receive three gifts today.
What perfectly beautiful words! (She takes after her mother!)You must be so proud of Agnes. And she is only 12?
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | January 05, 2007 at 02:11 AM
Wow! Those are beautiful. I hope Agnes writes a book someday too.
Posted by: Cheryl | January 05, 2007 at 06:52 AM
Those a beautiful - you are obviously raising a sensitive and talented daughter. I am amazed.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 05, 2007 at 07:10 AM
How beautiful! Agnes is a very gifted writer, thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Kelly
mom to 6 in PA
Posted by: Kelly | January 05, 2007 at 08:36 AM
beautiful, Alice :)
Posted by: Cheryl | January 05, 2007 at 09:36 AM
Wow... a treasured gift, indeed.
Thanks to you and Agnes both for providing such a beautiful way to remember Christmastide and Epiphany. We're not Catholic (nor do we homeschool), but I still plan to do the Tea tomorrow afternoon. I couldn't find the waffle bowls, so I think we will build little mangers out of graham crackers with icing glue. Either that or bake crescent roll dough down into some mini loaf pans.
Posted by: Carol | January 05, 2007 at 10:39 AM
This is absolutely beautiful!! My twin dd's(13) are impressed by her writing abilities...me too! Bravo!!
Posted by: Donna Marie | January 05, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Those are very, very sweet letters.
Posted by: Jennie C. | January 05, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Alice,
What a lovely gift you have in your sweet and gifted daughter!! Those poems are lovely, touching--just perfect...
Posted by: Jennifer in TX | January 05, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Each poem is just a pure treasure! And so is Agnes!
Posted by: Jeannine | January 05, 2007 at 11:31 AM
How beautiful, you have a very exceptional child there.
Posted by: Robynn | January 05, 2007 at 11:38 AM
My 8 y.o. dd says, "Good Job!"
And the 36 y.o. says..."Wow, how beautiful...a gift to us all!"
Posted by: Marie Cherry | January 05, 2007 at 12:18 PM
What a beautiful gift from your sweet daughter's heart. Precious!
Posted by: Michelle | January 05, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Alice, those are incrdible!!! You are very blessed. What a sweetheart.
Posted by: Ruth | January 05, 2007 at 01:38 PM
It's a rare privilege to glimpse the inner spiritual life a child like Agnes. She has such a beautiful way with words, made lovlier by her very Real faith. Thank you for sharing these treasures.
Posted by: Ann C. | January 05, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Oh, my! I had tears in my eyes from the first lines! Agnes, you are such a gifted writer! Tomorrow we are having a gathering at our home to celebrate Epiphany. May we use these lovely letters to pray out loud as we place the Magi in the Creche? We'll be sure to credit the very AMAZING author!
Posted by: Mary | January 05, 2007 at 02:31 PM
Oh, Alice! What treasures you and your whole family are! Thanks for sharing your blessings with all of us!
Posted by: Kimberlee | January 05, 2007 at 03:23 PM
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I read these today to our homeschool group during our tea and they were all touched.
Posted by: KC | January 05, 2007 at 04:05 PM
Beautiful letters. Just beautiful!
Posted by: Account Deleted | January 05, 2007 at 04:17 PM
beautiful! What a gentle spirit she must have.
Posted by: Melanie | January 05, 2007 at 08:08 PM
Echoing everyone else to say - Brava! Those were beautiful. Agnes is so talented. :)
Posted by: Amy | January 05, 2007 at 09:23 PM
BEAUTIFUL! She really has a gift, and such a pure heart. If you don't mind, I'm going to use these poems with my children for our own (simplified)celebration!
Posted by: Jane Ramsey | January 07, 2007 at 05:38 PM
Gorgeous! I think I may have Marianna copy these into her Notebook. Thank you, Agnes, for sharing!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 09, 2007 at 07:13 AM