The Christmas Guest

[Verse]
It happened one day at December's end
Some neighbors called on an old-time friend
And they found his shop so meager and lean
Made gay with thousand bows of green
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
And he said, "My friends, at dawn today
When the cock was crowing the night away
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
And He said, "I'm coming, your guest to be."
So I've been busy with feet astir
Strewing my shop with branches of fir
The table is spread and the kettle is shined
And over the rafters the holly is twined
And now I'll wait for my Lord to appear
And listen closely so I will hear
His step as He nears my humble place
And I open the door and I'll look on His face
Then his friends went home and left Conrad alone
For this was the happiest day he had known
For long since, his family had passed away
And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest
This Christmas would be the dearest and best
So he listened with only joy in his heart
And with every sound he would rise with a start
And look for the Lord to be at his door
Like the vision that he had had a few hours before
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound
But all he could see on the snow-covered ground
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn
But old Conrad was touched and he went to the door
And he said, "Your feet must be cold and sore
I have some shoes in my shop for you
And I have a coat to keep you warmer, too."
So with grateful heart, the man went away
But Conrad noticed the time of day
And he wondered what made the dear Lord so late
And how much longer he'd have to wait
Then he heard another knock and he ran to the door
But it was only a stranger once more
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back
But she asked for only a place to rest
A place that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest
But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away
Let me rest for a while, it's Christmas Day"
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
And told her to sit at the table and sup'
But after she had left he was filled with dismay
For he saw that the hours were slipping away
And the Lord had not come as He said He would
And Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood
When out of the stillness he heard a cry
"Please help me and tell me where am I?"
So again he opened his friendly door
And stood disappointed as twice before
It was only a child who had wandered away
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day
Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad
But he knew he should make this little girl glad
So he called her in and he wiped her tears
And he quieted all her childish fears
Then he led her back to her home once more
Then as he entered his own darkened door
He knew that the Lord was not coming today
For the hours of Christmas had all passed away
So he went to his room and he knelt down to pray
And he said, "Lord, why did you delay?
What kept you from coming to call on me?
I wanted so much your face to see."
Then softly in the silence a voice he heard
"Lift up your head, I have kept my word
Three times my shadow crossed your floor
Three times I came to your lonely door
I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet
I was the woman you gave something to eat
I was the child on the homeless street
Three times I knocked, three times I came in
And each time I found the warmth of a friend
Of all the gifts, love is the best
I was honored to be your Christmas Guest