Christmas Music

As some of you may have noticed, I've added Christmas Music to my blog. I LOVE Christmas music - could start listening to it in Sept. Maybe it's because I start shopping for Christmas early, or it's because I just love the music.

The old Hymns I learned in Sunday School and Church are by far my favorite songs. Growing up in a Christian home, in a Christian community and taking piano lessons from a young age has made music a part of who I am. But the music we hear at Christmas is special. It brings back memories of practising for school programs and Sunday School programs, piano recitals, and something special to do at Grandma & Grandpa's. Even in the school programs they managed to squeeze in the true Christmas story.

As Christmas gets closer we hear music in the malls, stores, on the radio, at home and in our vehicles. The secular Christmas songs are nice. Jeff Foxworthy's version of the 12 days of Christmas is actually quite funny. But give me "Joy to the World", "O Holy Night", "Angels We Have Heard on High" or "Little Town of Bethlehem" any day. Some how these songs don't get played, as a rule, in malls, stores or secular radio. They probably wouldn't make people go out and shop. Instead they make us picture home, church, family, friends, joy, peace & love. Isn't that what Christmas is about? It's hard to hum "Peace on Earth Good Will Toward Men" as you are being pushed, shoved and almost run over in shopping malls and stores right before Christmas. Isn't this the time of year where we stop and reflect about all the blessings God has given us in our lives and how God sent His only Son down to earth for us?

While sitting in our Christmas Craft Store and watching people race around trying to get their shopping done, talking about all the school Christmas programs they have to attend, the kids piano recitals they have to listen to, sports games their children will be in, the baking they have to do - it makes me wonder when anyone will have time to slow down, relax and truely reflect on why we celebrate the holidays.

So - My wish is that everyone has a wonderfully relaxing Christmas Holiday, spending a joyous time with family & friends while listening to their favorite Christmas Carols!!

IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR

It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old

From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold

"Peace on the earth, good will to me, From heav'ns all gracious King"

The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their heav'nly music floats, O'er all the weary world:

Above its sad and lowly plains, They bend on hov'ring wing,

And ever o'er its Babel sounds, The blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way, With painful steps and slow:

Lok Now! for glad and golden hours, Come swifly on the wing:

O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hast'ning on, By prophet bards foretold

When with the ever circling years, Comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth, Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song, Which now the angels sing.