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’d sing and chuckle together at the mention of their inclusion in the songs. The age difference between them didn’t matter – 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 Mary also sang over her beloved Son. So much has been said and written about that first Christmas that I’ve struggled with knowing what more I could add. I came to the conclusion that I can’t add anything but a mother’s 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.
“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
What peace and joy accompanied the birth of a special child in Bethlehem!
