"Let me tell you a story," Santa said one Christmas Eve,
to two little kids who had caught him sneaking like a thief.
He cleared his scratchy throat and knelt beside the toys,
"Listen to my story, of Raja the Shepherd boy."

"Raja glanced a little lamb left behind by its herd of sheep,
and with a broken hoof to drag, the lamb could only creep.
Little eyes deep in pain looked at him in the starlit night,
begging to be rescued from his dreadful plight.

"'I should leave you here, to suffer your awful fate,
'what good is a crippled lamb, for you it is too late?'
but Raja picked him up, his charity maintained,
limping behind the others, his own stride clearly lame.

"He dared not ask the others to slow and let him gain,
he was lucky to work at all, that simple fact was plain.
Born a poor crippled child, his parents only son,
couldn't play like others played, he'd stumble when he'd run.

"With the burden in his arms, he quickly fell behind,
as the others traveled onward, leaving him in the darkness blind,
A caravan he joined on the way to sell their wares,
they let him walk in safety, along with what was theirs.

"He was glad to have the company, safety there he'd know,
but he still was just a crippled boy, with a broken lamb in tow.
On the way, he faltered, his crippled leg brought him down.
he fell beneath the travelers, heard their footsteps all around.

"A hand reached out and pulled him to his shaky feet,
'I travel to a distant barn, a Savior there we'll meet.
'You can walk with me, and I promise you'll be blessed.'
Raja nodded grimly, the lamb close to his chest.

"The stranger was protective as they traveled near and far,
until they found the stable, beneath a shining star.
Outside stood a line of men who had a real strong sense,
of something with great value lying beyond the distant fence.

"Drawn by a glowing light, he crept up to gaze within.
There a baby boy lay sweet, surrounded by kneeling men.
Beside him were his parents, and behind them an angel bright.
Raja felt so little, so unworthy of this royal sight.

"He turned to leave, and return to the only life he'd know,
the broken lamb in his arms, together they would go
But he was halted by a voice as soft as his new spun wool.
"Come and see my baby," said she, "on this premier Yule."

"Raja passed three kings, and several shepherds from his flock.
He felt so incomplete, so crippled and so mocked.
But he followed the mother's voice as he heard the angels sing,
'Come, little Shepherd boy, and bow before the King.'

"'I have nothing to give this boy, but a lame and dirty lamb."
But Raja fell to his knees and held out the baby ram.
The little child turned his head, a smile lit up his face.
Raja knew for the first time, warmth and heavenly grace.

"A cleansing flame rushed in and out, and bathed the unusual pair.
when it dimmed, the lamb could walk, and Raja danced on air.
'The greatest gift brought today,' the mother spoke her part,
'is a broken body and a pure and humble heart.

"'My son came not to serve such kings as you see behind,
but the brokenhearted, and those souls who've shown they're kind,
so go tender shepherd boy and spread the news today.
that the King of Glory was born this Christmas day.'"

Santa rose to his knees, the children now asleep,
Leaving them with his tale of the shepherd and his sheep.
They dreamed that night of a giant star that shone down from the sky,
of a crippled lamb and shepherd boy, healed by power on high.