Twelve Songs of Christmas, Day 4: Three Ships

My dad loves this song. 

That’s one of the reasons it is meaningful to me, hearing it makes me think of him.

I also really like the reminder that others have different perspectives, traditions or connections to Christmas. I’ve never sailed on a ship towards Bethlehem, but some people have. And what a cool experience to be in Bethlehem for Christmas – either the night the Savior of the world was born, or now.

But physical location does not dictate whether or not we can celebrate the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ.

This idea was driven home by a character in a Christmas novel I read this season (Christmas Visitor by Anne Perry).

One character has been in the Holy Land but is home for Christmas. After Christmas he is going back to find the Garden Tomb:

“Can you imagine? We will stand where she stood when He said ‘Mary,’ and she knew Him!”

“Perhaps that is where we are all trying to stand,” Naomi said very quietly. “Only I’m not sure it is a place, I think it is a matter of spirit, it is who you have become.”

We cannot all go to the physical places Jesus walked while on this earth, but we can all try to stand where He stood by becoming like Him.

And we can all rejoice, as Three Ships reminds us:

Then let us all rejoice and sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning

My goal: Rejoice! And allow bells to be a reminder of the birth and life and example of Jesus Christ.

Full Lyrics:

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning

And what was on those ships all three
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
A little boy and our lady
On Christmas day in the morning

Oh they sailed to Bethlehem
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
Oh they sailed to Bethlehem
On Christmas day in the morning

Then let us all rejoice and sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning

Twelve Songs of Christmas, Day 3: O, Holy Night

Tonight I sang with a choir at a concert put on for the community. I haven’t sung in public for a long time.

Our choir director asked if I could sing soprano because they were short. I agreed, even though I generally sing alto. At the first rehearsal, I was the only soprano.

"Is this a joke?" I thought. "If so, it’s not funny!"

It took all my courage and willpower not to back out, to expose myself by singing the soprano part alone (in front of excellent singers!) – with quite a few high notes (lots of E above high C and even a G!). My desperate hope was that another soprano would join us, ideally for the rest of the rehearsal but certainly for the performance.

My heartfelt plea was answered and some wonderful soprano voices joined to save me from public humiliation.

It is a beautiful experience to join voices with other people to share a message.

A couple particularly powerful passages:

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease

O Holy Night doesn’t say that Christ will stop all oppression, it says that “in His name all oppression shall cease” – that coupled with the assertion that “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace” serves as a call to action.

I’m going to cheat (can it be cheating if I made up the rules in the first place?) and pull in another song’s lyrics:

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father
Brothers all are we

Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.

-Let There Be Peace on Earth

We all have the ability to profoundly impact this world – one person at a time, in all we do. I’m grateful for this time of year when so many feel increased love and kindness towards those around them. I pray that it can continue into the New Year and forever.

My goal: Love others more like Christ did.

Full Lyrics:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears and the Soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim

Twelve Songs of Christmas, Day 2: We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Growing up one of the things we did every year was to make treats and take them to our neighbors. We spent hours in the kitchen stirring pots of caramels and at least as long cutting and wrapping them. Some years we also make cookies. One year we made homemade tootsie rolls.

After the making and wrapping was done, we’d pull on mittens and hats and coats and traipse up and down the roads of our neighborhood.

At each door, we’d break into song (eventually we were able to do four-part harmony – but in the beginning we were lucky if the song was recognizable…)

Smiles would appear and gratitude was often expressed as neighbors accepted our plate and good cheer.

Every year, this is the song we’d sing:

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year

Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year

And we meant those words – we knew good tidings, we wanted to share them. We wholeheartedly wished our neighbors and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year through song and treats.

So even if I can't bring you a plate of goodies and sing to you, know I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas full of good cheer!