My throat was raw. Sound coming out was NOT pretty, by any standard. I tried to hold a tune but couldn’t even hit some of the lower notes. Would I have to drop out of the Christmas choir?

Two years ago I dropped out because of a throat infection. I didn’t want a repeat of that. Singing under the direction of Dr. Tony Dehner was challenging, fun, God-focused. Don and I began to pray that I would be able to sing through the eight Christmas concerts.

And I did. Despite some remaining soreness, I was able to lift up our Lord with the rest of the choir members.

The wonder of Christmas was expressed through James Durbin’s interpretation of “Mary did you Know?” “Mary, did you know the child that you delivered will soon deliver you?”

And our hope, in the midst of the world’s suffering, that ultimately, in Christ, “All Is (or will be) Well.”

There were many Christmases when my mother’s soaring soprano voice rang out in one of my favorite Christmas songs:

        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, Till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

        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.

We still live in a world, weary with struggle, pain, death, loss, loneliness, and evil. But the Christ-child who was born on that holy night, lived in our fallen world, died on a cruel cross, and was raised to life again. And because He lives, we who believe have great hope, hope for life with Him that begins here and will continue–forever! Hope that one day His justice will reign throughout the earth, and peace will rule. Let us indeed praise Him, for His coming, His peace, His presence … and His promise for eternity.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Where do you need peace this Christmas?