When I was younger, I was a singer. I sang all the time—in choirs, solos, groups, in the car, in musicals—what ever. So music was a huge part of my life and there was no better time for singing that Christmas time. I can recall several moments when my performances were interrupted by emotion—my choking back tears—because the spirit of the message was so strong (The duet of “Adeste Fideles” when we went to sing “Yea, Lord, we greet thee…” the jazz arrangement of “Silent Night” performed with the Rincon High School Chorale, the Messiah sing along at Duke Chapel on my mission, etc.). For Christmas, I wanted to jot down the lyrics of my favorite lines from Christmas carols.
“Jesu, joy of man’s desiring;
Holy infant, love most bright;
Drawn by thee our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.”
You may know this melody, but not the words—I sang this for the regional solo and ensemble competition in HS and I cried—and got a perfect score. I love the idea of our souls soaring, aspiring to be like God.
“How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God impart to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still
The Dear Christ enters in.”
Each time I sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” I have pictures in my head that have been there since I was a tiny girl. My grandma rocked me and sang me this song in her living room, which, in the mid-seventies, had blue spotlights and tiny sparkly stars in the spray-foamy ceiling. As soon as I hear this song, I picture a midnight blue sky over Bethlehem, with tiny little stars, then a growing glow. Grandma’s house is also right across the street from a fire station with lots of bright lights, which I always thought of when they sang “in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.” But this last verse means the most to me, as I picture this quiet, meek little woman giving birth in a stable—the sacredness of that moment of birth, the calm after the storm of labor, multiplied by a million knowing he was God’s son and would literally save us all.
The BEST for last—I have to include all the lyrics to “O Holy Night” because it is a masterpiece. It captures the true meaning and magnitude of Christ’s birth in its three verses.
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
Over the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
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,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
I am touched each year as I think of all the circumstances and repercussions of Christ’s birth. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I will say it again—my favorite line is, “In all our trials, born to be our friend.” It reminds me of Alma 7:11-12 when we are told that Christ came not just to save the sinner, but to perfect the saints, to comfort the weary and heal up the broken hearts. He heals both physical and emotional pain and in any trial he is our friend. That’s my testimony.
Merry Christmas.
