Is it just me or does everyone sing while they work? My husband tells me that I’m one of the few, but I can’t take that for the truth. It makes the task so much more enjoyable…so surely everyone does it, right?
The reason I bring this up, is because a few days ago I had an epiphany. I was singing Christmas carols and I started singing “O Holy Night.”  I was on my second rendition when the words hit home like a ton bricks. I had sung this song probably thousands of times in my life and never REALLY gotten what it was saying.
You know the part:
“A thrill of HOPE, the WEARY world REJOICES, For yonder breaks a new and GLORIOUSÂ morn!”
THAT is what Christmas is about…HOPE! It’s not like this was a new concept to me, but I didn’t fully understand the impact until God hit me over the head with it only days ago. God sent his son on the first Christmas to give us all hope in a world that is utterly broken and full of hurt.
To know Jesus is a thrill of the hope he brings to a weary world. We can rejoice and celebrate that truth.
As I sang the song again and again through out the day, I got teary eyed thinking that such a simple song would have such a profound message. One that most of us know by heart but rarely take the time to truly understand.
This is an ornament I made for a friend last week. I made it as a welcome home present for her and her family after they adopted their daughter from Columbia. This was their second adoption and a very difficult process. There were so many mountains throughout the adoption, but they never gave up hope that this is what they were supposed to be doing. They are a wonderful example of the hands and feet of Jesus to their two adopted daughters and two sons. They exhibit the hope that the song talks about in such a tangible way. Making the reason for Christmas something they display to so many of us daily.
Today, I am grateful for the HOPE that Christmas brings. It’s not about the presents under the tree (although, it is part of the excitement of the season) but more about the eternal gift. And that just makes me love this time of year even more!
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I thought today, I would give something a little personal. I will be giving away one antique butter knife with a choice of wording and an antique silverware charm.
The only rule is you have to follow my blog in some way. (e-mail, RSS feed, Facebook or Twitter)
To enter:
 1. Leave a comment letting me know your favorite Christmas carol.
This giveaway will close at 11pm EST, Thursday, December 13th.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
I love Carol of the Bells done by anybody anytime. (of course I already follow you on FB)
I just love all Christmas music–it all just moves me and I listen to it year long. My favorite has always been Silent Night, but I love O Holy Night too and so many more that it is hard to pick just one–there are so many beautiful carols….
Silent Night. Such a holy and awe inspiring carol.
My favorite Christmas carol is O Holy Night with Reba McEntire as the singer. I also like Wonderful Christmas Time by the Beatles and this one is silly but I enjoy the fact that it is fun and childlike Thistlehair the Christmas Bear by Alabama.
My favorite Christmas carol is Little Drummer Boy and that hasn’t changed since I was a very young child!
I love Silent Night…..Makes me cry every time I hear it!
These are definitely an unexpected elegance. A charmed antiquity.
I love “Silent Night”. It reminds me of midnight mass and for some reason, I always get teary at midnight mass. In my decor this year I made two canvases for over my buffet. They say “all is calm” and “all is bright”. It actually reminds me to calm down at this time of year.
I enjoy so many Christmas carols but, I have to say I always come back to “Do You See What I See?” I love the way it tells the story of the star with a tail as big as a kite and (christ) a child sleeping in the night. I could go on and on! Merry Christmas Every One!!!!!!!!!
I don’t have a favorite Christmas song, I like all the old-time Christmas songs. And of course I follow you(email). Thanks for a wonderful gift.
O Holy Night is my fav! I love hearing it sung and I can’t wait till I’m good enough at the piano to play it! Maybe next year!
My favorite carol is Little Drummer Boy. I follow by email.
So many favorites! Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Little Drummer Boy.
I think this year it’s Away in a Manger. My 4 year old sang it in her first Christmas program this year. 🙂
I gotta go with Frosty the Snowman…who doesn’t love an old Christmas favorite…and he’s just so adorable! <3
Silent Night. And lately the 2-year-old version of “Frosty the Snowman”… “He is happy and he’s cold…”
I find myself singing O Come All Ye Faithful an awful lot this time of year.
My favorite Christmas Carol is “What Child Is This?”. I follow you via email, fb, twitter and pinterest. A wonderful giveaway!
This is so beautiful! I never really thought about the meaning of ‘O Holy Night’ before. It really is about hope.
Your post is quite clear, and I presume you are an expert on the issue.