Songs Of Hope - Sing We Now Of ChristmasSample

Away in a Manger

In 1887, American hymn writer James R. Murray entitled the tune to “Away in a Manger” as “Luther’s Cradle Hymn.” Murray further stated …that Martin Luther had not only written “Away in a Manger,” but had sung it to his children each night before bed. As the song spread across a growing America and people began to sing it at home, in churches, and at schools, they often envisioned legions of German mothers rocking their babies to sleep each night with the strains of “Away in a Manger.”

Collins goes on to write that the song was probably written in the mid-1800s by an anonymous American. The tune was composed by J. E. Clark. A man named Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, music director for Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, published a new version of the hymn that included the third verse. The legend of the song being written by Luther continued to grow as passing decades brought in the new century.”

He said “Although we may never know who wrote the song we can still find inspiration in the story of the song itself. It tells us of the incredible humble birth of the greatest man who ever lived.”

My granddaughters are six and three. They can both sing (on tune) all of the first verse of Away in a Manger. I asked them what it meant that Jesus had no crib for a bed. Haley said Mary and Joseph did not have money so they could not buy a crib. Well, she was somewhat right. There was no money, and there was no room… only a stable... only a bed of hay. I love nativity scenes that picture the cows and lambs and horses around the baby in the 'manger.' A manger, by definition, is a long box that held the feed for horses and cattle. It was not very clean, probably did not smell the best and, more than likely, was full of animal drool. Yet God placed His Son, the Savior of the world, here.

Throughout all of His life, Jesus took the humble way. He had humble friends, ministered to humble people, faced a devastating humbled death and yet in Philippians 2:10 God said…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Most of us can use a bit of humility during the Christmas season. Perhaps as we sing, “Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay, Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there…” perhaps we will pause and remember the reason for the season.

Dr. Sharon Souter
Dean, Scott and White College of Nursing
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor