They have been playing in our home for nearly a month now…

You know the ones! Songs of the season. Christmas carols. It seems the whole world begins to sing at this time of year.

The great philosopher, Charlie Brown, asked, “Why can’t it be Christmas all year long?” Lucy sarcastically replied, “You are a FANATIC, Charlie Brown.” Perhaps. And perhaps I am too. But, wouldn’t it be wonderful if people could live all year with a song in their heart?

There is only one way for that to happen. The only song that lasts is a song about a Person instead of an event. We couldn’t stand songs about snow and the commercial trappings of Christmas all year long! But…songs about Jesus? Those last through every season.

The Christmas story is full of Christmas music. Celebrating the birth of Christ has always been associated with joy and a song…

• You can read Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55, “My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour…”
• The angel choir song is recorded in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The song has one subject: the Son of God and Saviour of the world. As surely as Mary had a song on her lips and the angels filled the air with their praise, we can have Christ’s song in us.

Christmas should always lead to worship. To bowed heads, bended knees, and blessed songs.

These are the true sounds of Christmas.

I believe my favorite Christmas song is one that is not sung frequently. It was written by a man with a broken heart who found that the only joy is found in Jesus.

Henry Longfellow had a beautiful wife and five children. Life was good. On July 10, 1861, some drops of wax fell on his wife’s dress causing it to catch fire. Though Longfellow did all he could to put out the flames, his wife passed away the next morning.

The next Christmas he wrote in his journal, “How inexpressively sad are all holidays.” Longfellow slipped into deep depression. When his son was injured in the Civil War it seemed that the darkness would only increase. During one of the holiday seasons he wrote, “I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace. A merry Christmas say the children, but that is no more for me.”

On Christmas day 1864 Longfellow’s hope in God returned. Light came through the darkness. From this experience he wrote:

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!

And 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!

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!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
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.”

We live in a world of trouble and heartache. Never forget that “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!” Keep your eyes and ears open to Him and He will keep the song in your soul.

What is your favorite Christmas song?