Music is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the joy of Christ's birth. The angels were the first to sing, and we get to follow their example. That irrepressible joy is something I'd like to recapture this year and every year. Yet it's so very easy for the bustle of activities and the weight of all the things on my to-do list to interfere. My husband mentioned a relevant article about how even striving for a simpler Christmas can result in burnout. That's not what I want.
Joy. Simple joy in Jesus. That's what's worth pursuing. And this year it means ruthlessly cutting out things that clutter my heart and mind. Even good things. Like all the goodies I'd like to bake, gifts I'd like to give, craft ideas I could post on this blog...
There's a little bell in this old Christmas program who can't help but ring out the good news. She has an exuberant happiness over the birth of Jesus that she can't help but share. Here are a few lyrics I recall:
Ringing bell, tidings tell,
Good news on earth, of Jesus birth,
Ring-ing Christmas bell.
I'm not sure if my parents still have the vinyl LP somewhere, but I'd love to refresh my memories. Still, the main point remains. My heart should be filled with joy that overflows in what I say and do. For indeed there is "good news of great joy that that will be for all people" (Luke 2:10).
4 comments:
I hope that no one gets burnt out from Christmas. I would hate to think that is how our Lord would want us to celebrate His birth. I have not heard of that song before but I love Christmas music. I will have to try to find it somewhere.
Your bell song sounds delightful. Let us know if you find it somewhere online. I'd love to hear it.
I asked my mom if she still had the album and she found it! She's going to try to convert it to digital format and send it to me. Otherwise, it's only available in vinyl record format.
Music plays such a big part in our lives...what would we do without it!
Post a Comment