THE CHRISTMAS GUEST
(Helen Steiner Rice)

Grandpa Jones
Johnny Cash - 1963


It happened one day near December's end,
Two neighbors called on an old-time friend 
And they found his shop so meager and mean, 
Made gay with a thousand boughs of green, 
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine 
And he said, "Old friends, at dawn today, 
When the cock was crowing the night away, 
The Lord appeared in a dream to me 
And said, 'I am 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 will 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 look on His face. . ." 

So 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 he had a few hours before.
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound, 
But all that 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 Conrad was touched and went to the door 
And he said, "Your feet must be frozen and sore, 
I have some shoes in my shop for you 
And a coat that will keep you warmer, too." 

So with grateful heart the man went away, 
But Conrad noticed the time of day. 
He wondered what made the Lord so late
And how much longer he'd have to wait, 
When he heard a knock and 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.
She asked for only a place to rest, 
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest.
But her voice seemed to plead, "Don't send me away 
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas day." 
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup 
And told her to sit at the table and sup. 
But after she 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 the litte girl glad, 
So he called her in and wiped her tears 
And quieted all her childish fears. 
Then he led her back to her home once more 
But as he entered his own darkened door, 
He knew that the Lord was not coming today 
For the hours of Christmas had passed away. 
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray 
And he said, "Dear Lord, why did you delay, 
What kept You from coming to call on me, 
For I wanted so much Your face to see. . ." 

When soft in the silence a voice he heard,
"Lift up your head for I kept My word-- 
Three times My shadow crossed your floor-- 
Three times I came to your lowly door-- 
For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet, 
I was the woman you gave something to eat, 
And I was the child on the homeless street.
Three times I knocked and 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."