“I heard the bells on Christmas day - their old familiar carol play - and wild and sweet the words repeat - of peace on earth good will to men!”

Christmas Eve is pretty much my favourite night of the whole year. The gifts are wrapped - the cookies are baked - the turkey is ready to be stuffed - the veggies prepared - the breakfast cinnamon buns ready to be baked - the tree is lit - the overhead lights are turned down low - the Christmas Eve service has come and gone (one Christmas Eve - we watched two pre teen boys turn their candles ever so slightly and drip wax from the balcony to the seats below - or the night the whole church erupted in laughter as a gentleman in the back pew passed a rather loud amount of gas that reverberated over and over again and my boys lost it as did everyone else) - I digress - Christmas Day is almost here.

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s was pretty sweet. I remember the Christmas I received a new doll - complete with the homemade clothes mom had sewed after I was in bed and the cradle my dad made for me. I can still see it under the tree that morning when I was 5 years old. I remember the year I got a “Chatty Cathy” doll. I remember the year my brothers and I got new sleds and right after Christmas dinner we headed to the hill to slide for the rest of the day.

When I was a young mom - it was my turn to make Christmas perfect for our children. I remember the year the boys got their golf clubs and we gave out clues for them to find them - ending up at our neighbours down the street. I remember sharing Christmas Day with friends - who were like family - when we couldn’t get “home”. I remember decorating our tree together - even waiting one year until almost Christmas Day so we could do it together. I remember Risk games that turned not so Christmasy! I remember singing The Messiah every year - watching White Christmas and The Sound of Music. (Why do we watch The Sound of Music at Christmas?) I remember the first year we had 3 grand babies under the age of 1 come for Christmas - with their parents of course. Oh my heart. I have no words. Nothing more blesses the heart than watching your children’s children.

The carol “I heard the bells on Christmas Day” was one of my dad’s favourite’s and the words were written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and then adapted by Johny Marks. Henry Longfellow penned the words to this carol in 1863 - a 57 year old widower with 6 children - the oldest having been wounded in the American civil war - even with all these difficult things - he had great hope. He believed that the Christmas music - though old - was familiar - and the words on repeat were peace to men on earth. Christmases past. So many great memories.

Christmas 2020!!!

“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!”

Stay home
Stay away from family and friends
Be afraid
Death
Disease
Despair
Fear
Loneliness

I refuse - to give in to F-E-A-R.

365 times in the Bible it says “fear not”! In fact, those were the words that the angel, Gabriel said to Mary! “Fear not, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. Don’t be afraid Mary!” Guess what Mary did? Exactly that. Mary said - “I am the Lord’s servant - may your word to me be fulfilled”. (I want to be like Mary).

I will not fear this Christmas. I will not listen to inner voices or outer voices that tell me to be afraid.

I will sing Mary’s song this year - “My soul glorifies the Lord - my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour - for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is His name.

I will sing the carols at the top of my lungs.

I will bake cookies and share them with my neighbours and friends.

I will sing The Messiah from start to finish.

I will mail Christmas cards to family and friends who live far away.

I will cook a great big turkey dinner (for 3).

I will rejoice.

I will glory in the story of the shepherds, the angels - the couple - the Baby.

Then pealed the bells more loud and sweet - God is not dead nor doth He sleep - The wrong shall fail - the right prevail - with peace on earth - good will to men!

The future is bright. Why? Come and behold Him - born this happy morning - Christ the Lord. The future is bright - not because COVID may be gone - not because who wins or doesn’t win an election - not because of protests or no protests - not because sports may or may not happen - not because we can go south again and escape the Ontario winters….no the future is bright because we trust in that Baby of Bethlehem - the future is bright because the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us - the future is bright because one very ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds God did something extraordinary - the future is bright because that night the sky exploded with angels and music announcing the birth of a KING.

We will eat together again.

We will laugh and play games.

We will sing loudly and proudly.

We will cuddle and hug our grandchildren.

We will worship together again in our churches on Christmas Eve.

We will watch our grandchildren go to bed on Christmas Eve with the anticipation of gifts and treats under the tree.

It will happen.