"Sing we now of Christmas
Sing we all Noel
Of the Lord and Savior
We the tidings tell."
Sing we all Noel
Of the Lord and Savior
We the tidings tell."
Eight of us met that night for Christmas caroling at the nursing home. What an incredibly beautiful experience. Though Christmas was still ten days away, it felt as if Christmas came to us that night.
Or maybe not Christmas...but Christ who came and was indeed in our midst.
We walked through the dimly lit halls, eight voices lifted in song, altos and sopranos mingling in harmony. As we passed each room, we would pause at the door to finish the song, then ask for any requests. "Silent Night" was the one most often chosen--for who isn't touched by the holy wonder of that song?
Later as I reflected on the gifts of girlfriends and kindness and music, I realized the evening held even deeper meaning behind it.
Every one of the young women who caroled has a burden she carries, a struggle amid the joys of life. Family discord, death of a loved one, infertility, breakups, loneliness, health problems-- crosses we don't choose but we seek to carry them in the footsteps of our Savior.
Yet every one of us sang that night. Though we feel the weight of our burdens, we know that our God--Emmanuel--brings us hope, peace, and salvation.
So we still sing.
And the residents of the nursing home. They lay in bed, watching us with a light in their eyes. Some of them can't even make it to a chair without assistance. Lonely, secluded, forgotten they live there--even though they deserve respect, love, and admiration for their age and wisdom. So when I saw their lips begin to move...as they attempted to sing with us that night...everything within me melted.
Because they still sing, too.
What are your struggles today, dear friend? Do you feel overcome by the burdens you carry? Perhaps if you quiet your soul for a moment, you will hear the sweet sound of His love for you. He is singing over you right now, rejoicing over you, and renewing you (Zephaniah 3:17). I know the crosses are heavy. But there is always hope. So we young women are singing anyway. The nursing home residents are singing. And our loving Father is singing.
Will you sing with us, too?
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