Christmas Music.
You're probably already over it. Shoot, I am too. Way over it. Over it before it was even December. See, because when the radio stations start playing it NON-STOP (really? why?) it gets really old, really fast. Totally fun for the first day or so, but after that...come on already!
Side Note: I have a few simply brilliant (in my humble, modest opinion) solutions to this dilemma of the over-whelming amount of Christmas music. But no one listens to me. I guess, maybe I should suggest it to someone other than my darling husband.
Moving on.
So, besides the fun "Frosty the Snowman" (how do I still not know all the words to this one?!?!) and the sentimental "I'll be Home for Christmas" and the slightly comical, yet oh, so true "They Don't Have White Christmases in Houston" most everything else holds a moment of nostalgia wrapped up in the obnoxiousness of repetition.
But there are a few that just never seem to get old. Only a few that cause me to pause and close my eyes (unless I'm behind the wheel, of course) and move my heart and my spirit into a whirlwind of worship. There are a few Christmas songs that just seem to really articulate what it's all about.
Have you ever really stopped and listened to the words of "O Holy Night"?
O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn (!!!!!!!!)
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord!
And what about "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen?"
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
This is some powerful stuff, y'all. And I don't know about you, but I desperately need the truth of these carols to permeate the very depths of my spirit and my attitude. (Especially when I'm in the car. Driving around in the ever-enjoyable Houston traffic. Who doesn't need an attitude adjustment after that?)
There are several other songs that belong only in the Christmas season that just do something to me. (Have you ever been pregnant
So, listen. I'm with you. If I hear "It's the Holiday Season" or "The Christmas Shoes" one more time, I may or may not lose it. But it's the classics, the hymns, full and bursting with truth like these that at lease attempt to give articulation to what we're really celebrating here.
The fact that Jesus, the very and only Son of God, came to this miserable earth as a squirmy, wrinkly, utterly tiny babe. That He grew up sinless. That He revolutionized the Law. That He gave His life for us, as undeserving as we are. And that He rose again. He came first as a babe, but He's coming back as a Conquering King.
This is what we celebrate.
And this is why we sing.
Merry Christmas. God bless us, Every One.
