Nativity

The weekend after Thanksgiving my good friends Marissa and Daniel Joyce had their son, Colton. I got the sweet opportunity to meet Colton when he was only 21 hours old. The beautiful picture of a doting dad and new family unit was awe inspiring. Then the following week, I saw The Nativity Story and was reminded so beautifully of the history of my faith. This Advent season is a time of remembrance and expectant hope for Christians. The month of December is "pregnant" with anticipation and we are hearing songs with lyrics like "let every heart prepare him room." That movie reminded me how very precious my faith is to me. And that I still didn't own a nativity as part of my Christmas decorations. I took care of that though. :)
Throughout the ages many have artistically shared what the miracle of Jesus' birth means to them and I recently was re-introduced to this Christmas poem from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow written in 1867

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Take a second and read this again: the wrong shall fail, the right prevail. What hope is there in Christmas!