Mom has always loved music. I’ve written about that before in this series. But when Christmas music is playing in every store, I miss our music making times together even more. I don’t often have music playing in the car or at home, but during this season, I do. I love Christmas music. The silly and the sacred. The classical and the pop.
The songs Mom has playing in her head are not Christmas carols. Even though my sister and I decorated the house a bit last week and even opened a few presents with her, she doesn’t remember that it is the Christmas season. She’s newly surprised at each mention that Christmas is just around the corner. I’ll play one of their many Christmas CDs and she’ll love the music as it is playing. As soon as the recording is over, however, the melodies stuck in her head are an old hymn or song from a musical. Even the words from familiar carols that we sang together all my life seem lost in the maze of her memory.
This is a surprising turn of events for me. From previous caregiving, I’ve noticed that melodies and music stick around in the mind longer than places or names. Perhaps since we only sing Christmas for a little while each year, they command less attention. Maybe I need to keep a Pandora Christmas station playing all year.
Because of these articles, I have been reading other people’s blogs and thoughts both in written and electronic form. We seem to all be struggling to keep the music of Christmas alive. “Sleep in heavenly peace” seems to be an elusive dream. “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” doesn’t really work when it’s 50+ degrees outside. (I didn’t mean to bring the weather into this article but, really now, what’s up with this crazy weather?) Even a fun pop song like “All I Want For Christmas is You” seems frivolous when someone you love is slipping away.
Our community, country and world have experienced so much heartache and heartbreak this season. It’s hard for us individually and collectively to embrace this season. It reminds me of a song written several years ago by Chris Rice, “Welcome to Our World.” Michael W. Smith recorded it on his “Christmastime” album. You can listen to Chris’ version here. I’ve always loved the song, but I’ve never needed the lyrics more than this year.
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking. How we need to hear from God.
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waiting. Welcome Holy Child. Welcome Holy Child.
Hope that you don’t mind our manger. How I wish we would have known.
But long awaited Holy Stranger. Make yourself at home. Please make yourself at home
Bring your peace into our violence. Bid our hungry souls be filled.
World now breaking Heaven’s silence. Welcome to our world. Welcome to our world.
Fragile fingers sent to heal us. Tender brow prepared for thorn.
Tiny heart whose blood will save us. Unto us is born. Unto us is born.
So wrap our injured flesh around You. Breathe our air and walk our sod.
Rob our sin and make us holy. Perfect Son of God. Perfect Son of God. Welcome to our world.
Have you ever opened the door to your home for friends or family when you just didn’t feel like you had the strength to welcome them in? Our “tears are falling, hearts are breaking.” But what if we did welcome Him to our world? What if we opened our homes and prepared a manger for Him and allowed Him to make Himself at home? What might happen if we gave ourselves over to Him to be wrapped in His embrace?
This year, no matter what songs are playing in Mom’s head or in mine, I’m going to welcome Him. He knows our sorrow. He understands our grief. He can overwhelm them with His love.
Welcome.
