It happened one day near December's end.
Two neighbors called on an old time friend.
And they found his shop so meager and lean
made gay with a thousand bows of green.
And Condrad was sitting with face just ashine.
When he sudenly stopped as he stitched a twine
and he said, "Old friends, at dawn today
when the cock was growing the night away,
the Lord appeared in a dream to me
and said 'I'm coming your guest to be.'
So I've been busy with feet astir
and strewing my shop with branches of fir.
The table's spread. The kettle's shined.
And over the rafters, the holly is twined.
And now I await for the Lord to appear
and listen closely, so I'll 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 had a few hours before.

So he ran to the window after hearing a sound
but all he could see on the snow covered ground
was a shabby old beggar whose shoes were torn
and all of his clothes were ragged and worn.
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
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 a greatful 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 had have to wait.

When he heard a knock, he ran to the door.
But it was only a stranger once more.
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
and a pile of kindling piled on her back.
She asked for only a place to rest
but all that was reserved for Conrad's great guest.
But a voice seemed to plead, "Don't send me away.
Let me rest for a while here on Christmas Day."
So Conrad did. He 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 hadn't come as he said he would.
And Conrad felt sure well he had misunderstood.

When out of the stillness, he heard a cry.
"Please help me. 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 this little girl glad.
So he called her in and wiped her tears
and quieted all of her childish fears.
Then he lead 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.
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.
I was the beggar with bruised cold feet.
I was the woman you gave something to eat.
I was the child on the homeless street.
Three times I knocked, three times I came in
and each time I found the warmth of a friend.
Of all of the gifts, love is the best.
I was honored to be your Christmas guest."

-Andy Griffith