--- title: How far is it to Bethlehem? description: "Frances Chesterton, wife of G.K. Chesterton, wrote the poem \"How Far is it to Bethlehem\" in 1917. Today, Kate Taliaferro reflects on this simple poem's powerful message about our closeness to Christ," --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/12/23/how-far-is-it-to-bethlehem#) # How far is it to Bethlehem? Dec 23, 2015 8:00:58 AM  |  by [Kate Taliaferro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kate-taliaferro)   *How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the sable room Lit by a star?* This poem was written by Frances Chesterton, wife of G.K. Chesterton. She wrote it for her Christmas cards in 1917. This little poem has been [put to music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF3YfQ2joZo) and is still performed today. It asks a peculiar question, one that we all can ask ourselves: Just how far is it to Bethlehem? And no, the Frances wasn’t asking how far away Bethlehem is from your house. *Can we see the little Child? Is He within? If we lift the wooden latch May we go in?* We are often hesitant in our desire for Jesus. We aren’t sure if we are worthy, if we have permission to enter into His presence. We wish to see Him, but are shy about opening the door. *May we stroke the creatures there Ox, ass, or sheep? May we peep like them and see Jesus asleep?* Perhaps if we just stick by the animals, lingering at the edges of the scene. Maybe this will be close enough. We made it inside the stable, and yet we still have more of the journey to make. *If we touch His tiny hand Will he awake? Will He know we’ve come so far Just for His sake?* At last, we gather just enough courage to approach Jesus, laying here in the manger. God, out of love made man, sleeping peacefully and undisturbed. How far have we traveled to arrive at this holy place? How many miles have our hearts walked, searching for this feeling of peace and comfort? *Great kings have precious gifts And we have naught Little smiles and little tears Are all we have brought.* [![The Morning Star by Waiting with the Word via. Flickr (2011) CC.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/8617695357_313287ee91_z-323x400.jpg?width=323&height=400&name=8617695357_313287ee91_z-323x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/8617695357_313287ee91_z.jpg) The Morning Star by Waiting with the Word via. [Flickr](https://flic.kr/p/e8vWAr) (2011) CC. Our little smiles and little tears, our sweet joys and aching sorrows, these gifts of life are what we bring to the Christ-child. Our gift of self is all we have and all we need to bring a smile to Jesus’ sweet face. Jesus does not need from us precious jewels, costly treasures or mighty deeds. Instead, He asks us to journey with Him, to journey from the stable to the cross. *For all weary children Mary must weep Here, on His bed of straw Sleep, children, sleep.* We are weary children, happy to have at last found Mary our mother and Jesus our brother. Mary lovingly wraps each of us in her arms, and just as she rocked Jesus to sleep, so too us. If we seek Jesus, we need only follow His mother’s gaze. *God in His mother’s arms Babes in the byre Sleep, as they sleep who find Their heart’s desire.* **What is your heart’s desire? What are you restless for? Is it possible that what you seek can be found nestled in a cradle made of wood and straw?** **How far is your heart from Bethlehem?**``   *Copyright 2015 Kate Taliaferro* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F23%2Fhow-far-is-it-to-bethlehem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F23%2Fhow-far-is-it-to-bethlehem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F23%2Fhow-far-is-it-to-bethlehem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=How%20far%20is%20it%20to%20Bethlehem%3F) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F23%2Fhow-far-is-it-to-bethlehem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F23%2Fhow-far-is-it-to-bethlehem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Kate Taliaferro](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/KATE%20TALIAFERRO-1.jpeg) ### [Kate Taliaferro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kate-taliaferro) Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mom of 6. She has a Masters in Religious Education and tries to find God's presence in all parts of her day, be it cooking, cleaning or just the everyday ordinary. She enjoys homeschooling, stitching crafts and finding cheerios between the couch cushions. She blogs at [Daily Graces](http://dailygraces.net). ## Related Blog Articles [ The Donkey: A Lenten Unit Study for High School Students Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/03/10/the-donkey-a-lenten-unit-study-for-high-school-students) [ Help Make the Work of G.K. Chesterton Known in Today's Society Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/01/12/help-make-work-g-k-chesterton-known-todays-society) [ G.K. Chesterton Images — Catholic Pinterest Board of the Week Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/07/20/g-k-chesterton-images-catholic-pinterest-board-of-the-week) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.