Welcome! We have officially entered the Christmas season. I know 103.9 FM and 98.9 FM have been playing Christmas music for a while, but I’m just now ready to start listening to Christmas carols.
Christmas music is one of my favorite parts of the season. I think it’s because most Christmas songs are so happy.
Listening to Christmas music makes me feel good, you know? I don’t think I’ve ever frowned during “Sleigh Ride,” especially because I cherish memories of playing it at the Christmas concert my senior year at Conneaut Lake High School.
Christmas hymns speak of hope. “Joy to the World! the Lord is come” says it all.
And I vividly remember learning “Do You Hear What I Hear” in Mrs. Schilling’s music class as a first-grader at Sadsbury Elementary School.
I still remember when it dawned on me that the Child in the song was Jesus. Woo! Mrs. Schilling snuck Jesus into public school under the radar. Brava!
This song shoots a happy chill up my spine every time I hear it. And it makes me smile.
Look up the lyrics. I can’t quote them—it’s copyright violation—but the encouraging words in the last verse bring me peace. Maybe you can sing this uplifting song to yourself when you get a little down.
Another fabulous Christmas song is, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I can quote the lyrics because the song’s in the public domain. It was written during the Civil War, and eloquently describes his dejection:
And in despair I bowed
my head;
“There is no peace on earth,
I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth,
good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells
more loud and deep:
“God is not dead,
nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth,
good-will to men.”
This brings tears to my eyes. Cling to these words, my dear readers, who live in or long for the Atlantic community! God is not dead. He’s not asleep. Wrong will not prevail! GOOD will triumph.
And ponder this Bible verse, in the Good News Translation: “What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Things are ugly right now. You know this. You might be asking yourself what you can do to make things better.
Start by speaking words that preserve life! Say only encouraging things.
No matter how you’re communicating—face-to-face, on the phone, texting, Facebook messaging, tweeting…aim only to encourage.
Please don’t vent. Don’t hypothesize doom and gloom. Don’t pretend that you can see into the future. You can’t. None of us can.
Believe the right will prevail. Remember a Child who became a Man now sits on a throne in heaven and is the only One in charge of world events. And be at peace.
Have a wonderful week! Blessings!