Unto Us A Child Was Born on The Second Day of Christmas

Merry Christmas to all who should happen to read this blog and a very Happy Birthday to our youngest son, Luke.  Some might say Luke was born “the day after Christmas” which sounds so anti-climatic and piddling.  And it just isn’t so!  There is nothing anti-climactic or piddling about Luke, in his birth, or in the journey he has traveled since.  Luke was born on the Second Day of Christmas!  Doesn’t that sound a whole lot better?  I think so.

“Unto us a child was born, a son was given” forty-six years ago on this Second day of Christmas. Needless to say, Christmas 1977 was an extraordinary one!  When Luke was born his brother, Paul, was eleven years old; his sister, Rachel Elisabeth, was ten. Luke brought a whole new dimension to our family and we are forever grateful.  

Happy Birthday, Luke.  May your day be a special one, as you have made all our days, since your coming, so very special.

Advent Hope: I Will Sing a New Song

 For many an Advent season, I’ve read Howard Thurman’s little book, The Mood of Christmas.   The book always lifts my spirit.  It helps me get in the proper mood for Advent.   I’ve always found synonyms helpful in getting at the “depth” of a particular word.  Synonyms for the word “mood” are: frame of mind, attitude, feeling, outlook, perspective, temperament, disposition, responsiveness, feeling, sentiment, emotion, etc.

Synonyms for the word “Advent,” help me get a handle on the real meaning of the word and the season:  

—something is “coming”

—something is about to “arrive”

—it is the “onset” of something new

—an “appearance” is about to occur

—something is “approaching”

—a new “entrance” is anticipated.

Thurman captures the “mood” of Advent in  “I Will Sing a New Song:”

The old song of my spirit has wearied itself out.

It has long ago been learnt by heart;

It repeats itself over and over,

Bringing no added joy to my days or lift to my spirit.

I will sing a new song.

I must learn the new song for the new needs.

I must fashion new words born of all the new growth

   of my life—of my mind—of my spirit.

I must prepare for new melodies that have

   Never been mine before,

That all that is within me may lift my voice unto God.

Therefore, I shall rejoice with each new day

And delight my spirit in each fresh unfolding.

I will sing, this day, a new song unto the Lord.