My Favourite Christmas Song

 My husbands job sometimes gives us the privilege of walking through the ups and downs of life with people. 

We get to celebrate as people welcome their children into the world.  We are invited to be a part of weddings & special anniversaries.  I love it when people share the joys of their lives with us.  It is beautiful to get to be a part of the journey.  What a privilege, we are so grateful for this.

We are also sometimes invited into the harder moments life brings.  Struggles with illness, pain, hurt. To be invited into those places of life is humbling.  To be allowed to walk alongside someone as they process pain.  To be trusted enough to have one share the hardship suffered and the scars it has left. That is a profound privilege.  I am honestly speechless each time it happens.

We have had the great joy of working at this church for many years.  We came young, wet behind the ears, flawed yet eager.   This family has been gracious, they have loved us through good and bad. They have blessed us. They have shown us great forgiveness, love and acceptance, grace for our faults and encouragement in our strengths.  They have allowed us to grow and change. They have made our service here a joy.  We are so grateful and fortunate. We are overwhelmed by it really, so few have the pleasure of serving so long in one place. We have history together, they are family.  We love them dearly. 

Some are expecting wondrous things this Christmas season.  The birth of a first child.  Their first Christmas being parents.  The start of a new job that brings joy, new challenges and opportunities. In these situations it is easier to have a heart of thanks, to believe in the goodness of God.  To appreciate the blessings is still a discipline.  I pray for the joy of a grateful heart for each. That they would echo the verses in Isaiah 63:7 "I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done."

For some, Christmas won't be wondrous. Some in our family are struggling with health, some will go through their first Christmas without a loved one. Some face the challenge of finding lost loved ones. Heart breaking pain.  Difficult struggles. Hard roads with unknown endings, journeys with no easy answers.  

In our last Advent service Psalm 34:18 was shared. It says "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."  This is my prayer for those who find themselves in difficult times this season, that they would experience the God who is close, the God who saves, the God who alone knows the depth of their pain and the challenges of their circumstances. 

Every Christmas my favourite song remains, "How Many Kings". It is written and preformed by a Canadian group, Downhere.  It expresses the heart of Christmas for me, especially when Christmas isn't all shiny and pretty and full of good things. For me, this songs says it all. 

 How Many Kings

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we've projected,

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -

Just a child -

Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior

All that we have, whether costly or meek

Because we believe.

Gold for his honour, and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross he will suffer

Do you believe?

Is this who we've waited for?

How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me

All for me...

All for you..

I wish you all a blessed Christmas, no matter what your circumstances.