Some of the most precious memories I have are of holding our two sons in my arms and singing to them. I would take the classic lullaby melodies and modify them to include their names and even as they grew, we鈥檇 sing and chuckle together at the mention of their inclusion in the songs. The age difference between them didn鈥檛 matter 鈥� the eldest would join me in singing to the youngest and vice versa.
Later, when they had children of their own, our three granddaughters became the recipients of these melodic gifts. There is something about singing over someone that I believe deposits a sense of being loved and accepted into their very being.
As we muse on the Christmas scene I can imagine that Mary also sang over her beloved Son. So much has been said and written about that first Christmas that I鈥檝e struggled with knowing what more I could add. I came to the conclusion that I can鈥檛 add anything but a mother鈥檚 heartbeat. I could never have imagined what our boys have faced over the past decades but I sang in loving ignorance of the future. Mary knew that her Son, Jesus, had come to redeem a world and at tremendous cost; to continue to sing was her gift to Him.
Never to be outdone, He returns that gift of singing over us, His children. Not only does He know every detail of our life, He is aware of our fears, our doubts and our questions and quiets our hearts by His presence.
鈥淭he聽Lord聽your God in聽your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will聽rejoice聽over聽you聽with gladness, He will quiet聽you聽with His love, He will聽rejoice聽over聽you聽with singing.鈥澛� Zephaniah 3:17
What peace and joy accompanied the birth of a special child in Bethlehem!
