the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight

the past 3 years have felt, at times, like 30. in other ways they have evaporated into moments and memories that seem to come and go in the blink of an eye. Christmas is defiantly different now and i have found myself dreading it's arrival rather than looking forward to it.

on my way home from work tonight i listened with a new ear to a carol i have heard and sung many times before. sometime i think god helps us to hear things when we need them most and when they will be most effective. timing is everything as they say.

i am ashamed that i have looked at this holiday as a reminder of what i have not - when in fact it is a celebration of what i will have forever.

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given !
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell,
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel !

-Oh Little Town of Bethlehem