Merry Christmas!

Moonless darkness stands between.
Past, the Past, no more be seen! But the Bethlehem star may lead me
To the sight of Him Who freed me
From the self that I have been.
Make me pure, Lord: Thou art Holy;
Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;
Now beginning, and always,
Now begin, on Christmas day.
~ Gerard Manley Hopkins
(The Nativity, painted by Georges de la Tour)