Elf is right!
24 Dec 2011 3 Comments
She is 8 and often appears to live in her own little world..and she sings and twirls everywhere she goes. SOooo often this is a mixed blessing of both joy and frustration. But today…today it is an inspiration.
You see, we are in a mall filled to the brimm with people. There are a few Christmas trees in stores that are headquartered in the western world but for the most part…there is no indication that the Christmas season is upon us. We are walking and shopping..she is singing…but today she is singing the song that has caputred my heart and continually brings tears to my eyes. But I don’t care because we are in the mall and it’s not “appropriate for her to sing so loud” even if her small voice isn’t heard because of all the people. Still I say for the 10th time in 10 minutes, “Shhhh, not so loud.” Then again, “Shhh pleeeeaasseee”…..and then I sigh…you know the big mom sigh that makes me sound bitter and “over it”? Yes…that one. And I take her hand and briskly walk to catch up with the rest of the family.
But as I am walking something glorious happens..it’s as if Jesus has put his hand on my shoulders and pulled me close to Him. I hear the spirit whisper, “Listen to her. She is proclaiming in all her innocents..with all joy, the truth that will save the world. Look at where you are… listen to her words. SEE what she is doing”. And I stop mid stride….I turn to her with wide eyes. I almost want to ask her if she heard a voice…but instead I just …I just look…I look…
I see a people who live in a country where they seek to honor God with all their hearts and seem to fail every day. I see a people filled with sorrow because of strife in the streets and uncertainty in their daily lives….and she…she…is telling them truth…”Hark the hearld Angles sing. Glory to the newborn KING…Peace on earth and mercy mild…GOD AND SINNER RECONCILED!!” And I look at her….with new eyes…and renewed Spirit, I began to sing too. She looks at me with clever bright huge brown eyes and without hesitation she starts the chorus and we are singing…she is spinning and we are happy. People are looking at us and smiling. I am certain they are thinking, “Look at the crazy foreigners.” But we don’t care. We smile. We wave. WE laugh. We are now in our own little universe and where joy and peace abound and everyone can see.
As we sing, I find myself wanting to sing louder and louder…maybe stand in a chair or table because this song…these words….they have life…they hold the answer to every problem, to every hurt, to every need….and it should be sung loudly!! Perhaps, Elf is right, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing out loud for all to hear!” because I am no longer frustrated and hurried. I am no longer concerned with having her “act right”. All that matters is that truth is flowing from our lips and we have the joy of Christ in our hearts.
Then the tears are flowing again…because all around us are people who don’t know…who don’t hear. Heck, just moments before I was one of them but for the grace of Christ pulling me close to Him I would have missed this sweet life changing moment. I would have missed truth being sung with no fear in a mall located in the Middle East. I would have missed the joy of my daughter reveling in her knowledge of Christ’s birth. I would have missed this moment which, to me, now, exemplifies the Christmas Spirit.
I don’t want this to turn into a “don’t forget the real meaning of Christmas” blog post. There are plenty of those to inspire and encourage us…but rather I want you to WAKE UP!! WAKE UP!! LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THE SONGS WE HAVE SUNG ALL OUR LIVES!! PONDER….WONDER…..THE TRUTH…THE LIFE….that we sing about all the time with no weight to the words. Even the most hard core atheist knows the words to Joy to the World. Simply singing these seemingly ancient words…isn’t celebrating Christmas.No matter how you dress it up with bows and ribbions. If you aren’t brought to tears by the words of many of these proclaimations of truth (so commonly referred to carols) then I challenge you to quit singing…listen…think….
WORSHIPPING…UNDERSTANDING….being AWED….this …this is celebrating Christmas.
Dec 24, 2011 @ 21:36:12
Great perspective and reminder–thank you for giving me the perspective of your surroundings for Christmas. I saw this at my aunt’s house last night–you and Ava were doing this, too! May the glory of Christ’s birth reach many because of your presence in E. Miss & Love you!
Dec 24, 2011 @ 21:57:52
Wow what a blessing that was to my day!
Dec 25, 2011 @ 05:31:52
So true Bec- love to hear that sweet Ava is having an impact in her own little way. Out of the mouths of babes!