Reba McEntire – The Christmas Guest (Guitar)

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[Intro] D D D D [Verse 1]

D
 It happened one day near December's end

                               C
Two neighbors called on an old friend

And they found his shop so meager and lean

                       A
Made gay with thousand bows of green

And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine

                 D
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine

                                    D
And he said "Old friends, at dawn today

D
 When the cock was crowing the night away

The Lord appeared in a dream to me

C
 And said "I'm coming your guest to be."

[Verse 2]

C
 So I've been busy with feet astir

A
Strewing my shop with branches of fern

    A
The table is spread and the kettle is shined

D
 And over the rafters the holly is twined

D                               G
 Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear

And listen closely so I will hear

                               Em
His step as He nears my humble place

                           G
And I'll open the door and look on His face

[Verse 3]

A
 So his friends went home and left Conrad alone

                          D
For this was the happiest day he had known

For long since, his family had passed away

G
 And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day

                     Em
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest

This Christmas would be the dearest and best

      A
So he listened with only joy in his heart

And with every sound he would rise with a start

D
 And look for the Lord to be at his door

Like the vision he had had a few hours before

D
 So he ran to the window after hearing a sound

                                         C
But all he could see on the snow covered ground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn

                            A
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn

[Verse 4]

A
 But Conrad was touched and he went to the door

D
 And he said, "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore

            D
I have some shoes in my shop for you

And a coat that will keep you warmer too."

                 C
So with grateful heart the man went away

But Conrad noticed the time of day

    A
And wondered what made the Lord so late

And how much longer he'd have to wait

D
 When he heard a knock, he ran to the door

                  G
But it was only a stranger once more

A bent old lady with a shawl of black

      D
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back

She asked for only a place to rest

   A
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest

[Verse 5]

                             D
But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away

                                    G
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas Day"

So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup

                                     Em
And told her to sit at the table and sup

But after she left he was filled with dismay

A
 For he saw that the hours were slipping away

                                       D
And the Lord hadn't come as he said he would

Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood

D
 When out of the stillness he heard a cry

'Please help me and tell me where am I?"

C
 So again he opened his friendly door

And stood disappointed as twice before

A
 It was only a child who'd wandered away

                                          D
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day

[Verse 6] Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad

       D
But he knew he should make the little girl glad

So he called her in and he wiped her tears

   C
And quieted all her childish fears

Then he led her back to her home once more

A
 But as he entered his own darkened door

D
 He knew the Lord was not coming today

                               G
For the hours of Christmas had passed away

[Verse 7]

      G
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray

       Em
And he said "Dear Lord, why did you delay?

A
 What kept you from coming to call on me?

                     D
For I wanted so much your face to see.'

                         G
When soft in the silence a voice he heard

"Lift up your head for I kept my word

Em
  Three times my shadow crossed your floor

                       A
And three times I came to your lonely door

I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet

D
 And I was the woman you gave something to eat

                                D
I was the child on the homeless street

Three times I knocked, and three times I came in

C
 And each time I found the warmth of a friend

A
 Of all the gifts, love is the best

          D
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest