Once In Royal David's City

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:11

One of my mother's favorite Christmas songs is this carol which refers to the birthplace of Jesus. Another sweet carol and also a favorite of mine.

Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, the mean, the lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

Jesus is our childhood's pattern,
Day by day like us he grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew.
And he feeleth for our sadness,
And he shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love;
For that Child who seemed so helpless
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.

-Words by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)