What Child Is This?

Dear Victor and Josiah,

After supper tonight, we had a little impromptu "family sing time."

Daddy pulled out the hymnal, and we sang Christmas songs all together, until Dad left us to get Joey changed for bed. Then I just sang to Victor, 4 songs in a row, some Christmas favorites.


Victor, you looked at me with such big eyes, trying to understand the words.You got a big smile during the "Gloooria" during "Angels We Have Heard on High," and then we talked about what those funny words in a different language mean.

We sang my 2nd favorite Christmas hymn, "What Child Is This?" I love the song, with its minor key and haunting words. But I get choked up singing it, which makes it hard for a solo act.

"What does it mean?" you ask after every song. And a good question it is.

My Victor, and my Josiah, this is what it means.

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Jesus came as a little baby, my boys. He was God Himself, but He became a tiny little baby, just like Josiah! And the angels sang big songs out in that chilly night with the shepherds, to praise God for Him. And all the shepherds hurried to visit Jesus, because He was a special, amazing baby. 

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

Oh, my little sons, this is the most astounding thing of all. That God Himself would be so humble to sleep in a box where donkeys eat and be born in a barn, because nobody gave them a room at the hotel. And what's more, the people wouldn't love and worship Jesus like He deserved, but they would hate Him and kill Him--not because He did bad things, but because we do bad things. And Jesus will cover over our sin with His perfect life, if we will trust Him.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.

Victor and Josiah, Jesus deserves every good thing! We want to love Him with all our hearts and show Him that we know He is the best! We want to sing and praise God for Him and love Him better than anything else. We want to tell everybody that Jesus is the best and that God gives forgiveness and new good hearts to anyone who will trust in Him. We have so much joy, my boys, because Jesus came!

What a special season this is, sons, that we remember God's good gift to us.

And how we pray that you will love Him and trust Him all the days of your life.

Hugs and kisses,
Momma

Putting up the Nativity