Christmas Music Memories by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2
I love Christmas music! However, I have my favorites because they remind me of Christmases past, or because they draw me closer to Jesus.
For example, I’ll Be Home For Christmas brings back memories of the Christmases I missed in my early years as a rookie television sportscaster, or because I made a wrong choice to not travel home. There were several times where I was only home for Christmas in my dreams, and so the song can make me melancholy. I have to remind myself that I have been spending Christmas with family for decades now, and while it brings back sad thoughts I’ll Be Home for Christmas represents days gone by.
What Christmas songs make you sad? How has God restored you?
The song Away in the Manger causes me to recall an embarrassing moment. I was a little girl and singing Away in the Manger while staying at my grandparents’ house. Unfortunately, I inserted derogatory words about the “little Lord Jesus” in front of a family member. Father, forgive me, for I did not know what I was doing. The family member chastised me and told me to never say that again. I am thankful the incident happened because it provided an early awareness of the importance of Christ’s birth. I never forgot that moment, and whenever I hear Away in the Manger, I exhibit a special reverence to the baby in the manger.
What Christmas songs represent an embarrassing moment in your life? How did God work that for good?
The Christmas song that carries me to a higher place is O Holy Night. The song was co-written by French composer Placide Cappeau and his Jewish friend, Adolphe Charles Adams, after Cappeau was asked to draft a poem for his parish’s Christmas mass. The classic was originally known as Cantique de Noel. Sadly, Cappeau renounced his faith in God. but the lyrics and music made its way to America through abolitionist John Sullivan Dwight. Dwight changed some of the lyrics slightly, and O Holy Night became famous.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
When I hear or sing O Holy Night, I imagine what it will be like one day in the presence of God. There will be nothing to do but to fall on our knees before Him. The biblical descriptions that Ezekiel and Daniel provide give us clues about how the Throne of God will appear, so my guess is the holiness of the Throne of God will take both our breath and words away.
What Christmas songs draw you closer to God? Will you take time to worship the LORD today through those songs?
[1] https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-meaning-and-story-behind-o-holy-night.html
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