We were all tired and a little off-kilter: our Christmas Eve service started at bedtime last night, Arch and I were up late being Santa & Mrs. Claus, and Noelle was up every couple of hours screaming from (we think) intestinal pain but refusing to potty. We had "special" food and Lily just wanted fruit and a cheese sandwich or goldfish. And all the candy. Before breakfast.
In some ways it was perfect, in others a let down- no matter how much we plan for the perfect, ideal Christmas Day, or any day for that matter, the flesh intervenes. We're "too tired to be civil," or hungry, or greedy, or just plain cranky, or.....
In November I helped put together an adult education class (Sunday school) at church for our missions weekend about human trafficking, and since then I can't get the horror of modern slavery out of mind.
I can't stop the evil in the world, I can't stop the selfishness in my own heart and home! So when I got to my blog reader and found "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", I was frankly bored of Christmas music, and identified not with "the old familiar carols play, mild and sweet their songs repeat", but with:
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
And my heart cried, "Where are you, Lord? When will you rescue us?" 1
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, goodwill to men.
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this."
