It happened one day near December's end 
Two neighbors called on an old friend
And they found his shop so meager and lean 
Layed gay with a thousand boughs of green

And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
And he said, "Old friends, at dawn today
When the cock was crowin' 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 a-stir
And strewing my shop with branches of fir...

"The table is spread and the kettle is shined
And over the rafters the holly is twined
Now I wait for my Lord to appear
And listen closely so I will 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'd 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 beggar who's shoes were torn
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn

But Conrad was touched and he went to the door 
And he said, "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore
I have some shoes in my shop for you
And a coat that'll keep you warmer, too..."

So with grateful heart the man went away
But Conrad noticed the time of day
And wondered what made the Lord so late
And how much longer he'd 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
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back

She asked for only a place to rest
But that was reserved for Conrad's guest
But her voice seemed to plead, "Don't send me away
Let me rest for a while on Christmas Day"

So Conrad 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 he'd misunderstood
When out of the stillness he heard a cry,
"Please help me, and 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 the little girl glad
So he called her in and he wiped away the tears
And quieted all her childish fears

Then he led her back to her home once more
But as he entered his own darkened door
He knew 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
And 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
And three times I came to your lonely door...

"I was the beggar with bruised cold feet
And I was the woman you gave something to eat.
I was the child on the homeless street ... 

"Three times I knocked, and three times I came in
And each time I found the warmth of a friend

Of all the gifts, love is the best
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest..."

Written by Billy Walker and Grandpa Jones
As performed by Reba McEntire on her MCA Compact Disc
"Merry Christmas To You," from 1987