“Familiar” Christmas Carols
by Peggy J.
These words were penned by French poet Placide Cappeau in 1843: O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining; It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
We sang that carol and others in elementary school. As a child, I had no idea what I was singing about. I enjoyed singing back then and learning some basic harmonies that I still remember. But it wasn’t until I realized my need for a Savior when I was 34 years old that I really heard and understood the meaning of the words for the first time.
I had no idea the world was filled with sin and error. I didn’t know we were pining for something. I did know, however, that I didn’t feel like I had much worth.
I had messed things up in my life. I made some bad choices and hurt those closest to me. A dear friend told me about a remedy, whose name is Jesus. I learned that I could start my life afresh! He told me in His Word how much He valued me. My soul felt its worth!
Along with God’s Word, hymns and spiritual songs speak to me. They move me. I drink in the lyrics, especially at Christmastime. I am fortunate, thinking back on my school days, that I learned so many of the traditional carols. I learned their words by heart as a child, but now when I sing them, they are extra important to me.
Consider Joy to the World, written by Isaac Watts in 1719. (He has written some of my absolute favorite hymns)! The verse that says No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. I love to garden. It takes a lot of work to clear a space and then tend a garden. When we let Jesus into our lives we see He did and He will do the work! And He does it as far as the curse is found, which is EVERYWHERE! There’s not a place in this world where He is not. Wow! Talk about making things right!
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the new-born king Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled". I didn’t know, when I sang this song as a child, what the words “God and sinners reconciled” meant. I am so glad Jesus shed His blood to make this possible! Consider also the words to The First Noel: Then let us all with one accord, Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, That hath made heaven and earth of nought, And with his blood mankind hath bought. This song tells us that Jesus is, among many other things, our Creator and our Savior. He is worthy of all our worship!
This Christmas season, when we sing the familiar songs as we gather in church, let’s really listen to the words we are singing. It will make our worship even more meaningful, I promise!
