In
a war across the globe
Transported
to and imprisoned in
A
land so far from home.
Detained
behind barbed wire
But
warm and fully fed
They
yearned for home and family
While
grieving for their dead.
Allowed
to work on area farms
The
prairie brought them peace
Their
strong arms worked to till the soil
Until
the raging battles ceased.
As
holidays approached in ‘44
And
winter nights were long
A
small nativity scene was fashioned
And
darkness filled with German song.
Commander
Lobdall was impressed
By
the sight of the small nativity
And
requested a larger scene for ‘45
To
share with the whole community.
Eduard Kaib and five other men
Eduard Kaib and five other men
Took
on this mission of peace and harmony,
Using earnings from their labors
To
construct a complete nativity.
Creating
half size statues
In
their workshop late at night,
Molding
sheep and shepherds, kings and camels
Helped
the prisoners’ loneliness take flight.
Fashioning frames from wood and wire
Which
they covered with concrete,
Using
Plaster of Paris to animate
The
faces, hands and feet.
Using
their God-given talents
To
create Joseph, Mary and the Babe,
They
placed a halo round His head
To
show He came to save.
By November of that very year
It
was ready to display.
Thousands
came to see the scene
And
the baby lying in the hay.
And
so it’s been for each year since
Bringing
tidings of great joy to all men.
A
gift from lonely prisoners—
Enemies
who became friends.
It
remains a symbol of the message
That
was brought down to the earth
In
that tiny little stable
On
the night of our Savior’s birth.
For just like the three Wise Men
That
journeyed from afar,
These
strangers came bearing gifts
That
only they could share.
And
so it proves no matter where we live
Or
the language that we speak,
There
can be peace, goodwill toward men,
That angelic promise that we seek.
Merry Christmas!
Jean
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