Merry Christmas Quivercley!

I love the hymns of Christmas. They are usually meditations of the thoughts of generations piled upon another and penned without as much attention to the other doctrines, except that Christ came into the world sinners to save. Am I one of those sinners that Jesus came to save? Christ allowed Christmas to either solidify us in our materialistic trappings or rouse us from our "fatal ease". Am I stuck on the trappings and cannot get away from my own covetous longings for what I cannot have? Then, repentance and faith are the remedy for my soul. God sent Christmas to shake us into that. When we prioritize the worship of God amidst all of the fun and regalia. When we give and receive, for His glory, we are as close to imitating God as we can get as humans. God is ever giving gifts of mercy and grace. God is ever receiving the praise and the glory for His awesomeness. God is never proud, as we are and never covetousness, as we are. God sends Christmas every year as a sword to cut us to the quick that we may see the state of our hearts and draw near to Him. He is good.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

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, goodwill to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead: nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, goodwill to men."

Till, ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth goodwill to men!

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What a bunch of truths this hymn embodies. As we age and our minds grow dim of the comforts that life affords and we grow greedy of our own ways and wants, this hymn is a reminder that we are either a part of the worship of God on His day for His mercies or we are complaining about what life has or has not provided. Soul, he says to himself, give the reigns to God in this season and be grateful that though our God is a consuming fire His mercy has spared you and continues to sustain you. Do not sit in the slough of despond about missed opportunities and mess ups. Get up and Praise Him who has given this new day to grow and to learn and to imitate Him in giving joy to little ones this holiday season. Set your table and donn yourself and home and enjoy the precious gifts of hearth and home. Thank God for Christmas!