I love listening to Christmas music, absolutely love it. I wait until after Thanksgiving to bring out my collection and then listen to it clear up to Epiphany.
One song I’ve been listening to frequently while driving is Come On In. It is sung by one of my favorite Christian musicians. The first verse refers to a young couple who cannot find anyone to tell them to ‘Come On In,’ so they lay their baby in the hay. In the next verse the musician remembers his Dad lighting a candle in a window every night. It was more than a Christmas decoration. It was a shining invitation. I remember the artist talking about this at a concert many years ago, that it was his family’s way to telling people who drive by their house to come in and visit. The song further reflects his family burning their welcome candle in the dark, “Lord Jesus see it burning in my heart.” When I sing along with this song, it touches my heart in two ways. I hear Jesus telling me to come in, spend time with him. I know I am asking him, too, if he sees the welcome candle burning in my heart.
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“Show me where I fit into this plan of yours. How can a man be a father to the Son of God? How can I raise a king? When he cries, the sun just seems to disappear. When he laughs, it appears again.”
These words are extracted from the Christmas song Joseph’s Song, another song that rings in my heart each year. Can you begin to imagine what Joseph was feeling, thinking, how afraid he might have been? Joseph asking God why did you choose me? I remember when we were expecting our son; our biggest questions were what car seat, what daycare, what name, remembering our Aaron was from God. Joseph was given a gift, a gift that he shared with all of us.
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There are other favorite Christmas songs such as Do You Hear What I Hear (that brings back warm memories from freshman high school choir) and Mary’s Song and other hymns within the Holden Evening Prayer which my church uses every year for our mid-week Advent services.
So as we continue to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Baby Jesus this week, and the Kings’ arrival to Bethlehem, I ask what Christmas song or hymn warms your heart, resonates with your soul?
Merry Christmas and remember Go Tell It On the Mountain that Jesus Christ is Born.
Gwen Edwards is serving a second term on the churchwide executive board and lives in Bellevue, Nebraska.
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Photo by Epic Fireworks. Used with permission.