Merry Christmas!

Merry, Merry Christmas to you and yours!

We are so grateful to be with family and friends in sunny So Cal. Trees are decorated; decorations are hung; lights adorn the eaves of neighborhood homes. We have heard an almost constant string of Christmas carols and songs. This year, two have really touched my heart each time they come on: "In the Bleak Midwinter" and "The Little Drummer Boy."

The last verses of each really get to the heart of Christmas: the celebration of the birth of the Son of God--God's great gift to us (John 3:16)--and each poet's desire to do something in appreciation for that great gift. Just take a read:

"In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone:
Snow had fallen, snow on snow
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter,
Long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.
Enough for him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk,
And a mangerful of hay:
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air -
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give him -
Give my heart.

"The Little Drummer Boy" by Katherine K. Davis

Come they told me, pa rum pa pom pom
A new born King to see, pa rum pa pom pom
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pa pom pom
To lay before the King, pa rum pa pom pom,
rum pa pom pom, rum pa pom pom

So to honor Him, pa rum pa pom pom,
When we come.
Little Baby, pa rum pa pom pom
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pa pom pom
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pa pom pom
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pa pom pom,
rum pa pom pom, rum pa pom pom.

Shall I play for you, pa rum pa pom pom,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pa pom pom
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pa pom pom
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pa pom pom
I played my best for Him, pa rum pa pom pom,
rum pa pom pom, rum pa pom pom.

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pa pum pum
Me and my drum.

Such as we have, we give to each other at this time of year in remembrance of Him for whom this season is celebrated.

Merry Christmas!

Love, the Owens