Do you hear what I hear?

I love Christmas Carols, and frankly December is not long enough to listen to the great songs of the season. My dad and I have a contest every year and usually in August or September, if we are running especially late, we call when we have listened to our first Carol. This year, we won. Victoria called and let Grandpa know we were claiming the win, as we were listening to the first Carol.

Recently I was listening to the song, "Do you hear what I hear?" It's a classic. The jest of the song is that each character introduced shares with someone else what they hear. Then they describe in greater detail what they are actually hearing. It's not only a star, but it's a star that is shining in the night with a tail as big as a kite. It's a beautiful song. The theology is a bit weak, but that's another post.

The reason I was thinking of this song, is I was just reflecting on how each of our experiences on this earth is so individual and unique. Just the other day, Will came to me with eyes wide with excitement, lots of hand motions and a very excited voice and shared that his brother was out of the designated area. His telling was so entertaining that we were smiling. I could tell, he was disappointed and felt that we truly didn't understand the severity of the situation. So he launched into the same story only adding a few more details, "Mom, he is not HERE, he is out there, over by the big van, MOM, the BIG VAN!" In his mind he could not understand my inactivity. He had expended so much energy to share this vital piece of information and it required action PRONTO! That is one of the great things about being 4. If something is important to you, it is nearly an involuntary response to share it. Sometimes, actually most times, LOUDLY. Will and Isaiah remind me of this often. I wonder when we lose that zeal, that passion to tell someone something so important.

Christmas is a beautiful time to ask someone, "Do you hear what I hear?" How great to share the experiences we are going through or just the reason we are able to face the life that we find before us. So this is what I am "hearing" tonight. A child, a child...A CHILD, with wide eyes and expressive motions and excitement in my voice.

And that child, came for one purpose. He came for you...for YOU!! He came so that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly. ABUNDANTLY!!

So that is what I hear, and I so want you to know that too!! Do you hear what I hear??