Music Monday: "Mary, Did You Know? " by Mark Lowry

Music Monday: "Mary, Did You Know? " by Mark Lowry

 

As I began writing this post, I questioned my song choice; after all, it is the day after Christmas-shouldn't we focus on keeping the spirit of Christmas "alive" all year long?

While that's all well and good, I think we often forget the awe of the holiday itself. I mean, think about it – this is the fulfillment of a prophecy over 400 years old. The most well-page on known passage is Isaiah 9:6, which says: "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." (NIV)

Still…

Some people doubted. Take Zechariah, for example. When the angel Gabriel came to share the good news of Elizabeth's pregnancy, he questioned how that would be possible-being that they were old and up in years. He didn't believe it was possible, and as a consequence of his unbelief, he was struck mute until John the Baptist was born.

When Gabriel brought the news to Mary and Joseph, the reaction was drastically different. Even though she questioned the angel, "How will this be since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1: 34), she believed. Yes, she had concerns and openly shared those with Gabriel in an open and honest conversation.

Luke 1 & 2 are practically the only two books of the Bible that attempt to share the birth of the Messiah from a mother's perspective. As a result, readers get their first glimpse at the immense responsibility placed upon Mary's shoulders when Luke describes how Mary "treasured these things in her heart." (Luke 2:19).

 In addition, Mark Lowry's song, "Mary Did You Know?" attempts to explore Jesus' birth from a mother's perspective. Although people question the song and its place among contemporary Christian Christmas music, it gives a realistic portrayal of what it might have felt like to realize you are carrying the Messiah in your womb?

Can you recognize the difference between Zechariah's and Mary's perspectives? Of course, belief is the main ingredient, but I believe it's more than that. Attitude is critical as well. It gives the true state or condition of one's heart- through their actions as well as their words. Zechariah's response was one of disobedience and unbelief while Mary's response was one of obedience and trust; yes, she questioned, but in the end, she believed replying, "I am the Lord's servant… May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1: 38)

To listen to Mark Lowry's version of "Mary Did You Know?", it can be accessed at:

https://youtu.be/bXmfkFoX-PE

 

Wisdom Wednesday: The Wisdom of the Crippled Tiny Tim

The Wisdom of the Crippled Tiny Tim

By:Dad

Each year our family enjoys watching Charles Dicken's story, A Christmas Carol:  A Ghost Story of Christmas, in movie form. It is a uniquely Christmas story, well-known and emotional as curmudgeonly Ebeneezer Scrooge views the assessment of his life from the perspective of three angels. Set in Victorian London, where crime, poverty, and pollution were rampant, the story contrasts the blindness of greed in Scrooge and the clarity of honest, humble living in the Cratchit family. The underlying themes of sin and redemption are present – as Scrooge's life is redeemed as he repents (turns around) and becomes a new man.

But how does this repentance occur? Dickens wrote the wisdom of the answer in a simple sentence from the mouth of the least of his characters. As Scrooge is escorted by the angel of Christmas Present to his employee's home, Bob Cratchit, he observes Bob arriving home from the church to be greeted by his family. In threadbare clothes, he carried his youngest son, Tiny Tim, on his shoulder.

Dickens introduces the disabled boy: "Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch and had his limbs supported by an iron frame!"

After some family frivolity, we hear a private conversation:

"And how did little Tim behave?" asked Mrs. Cratchit when she had rallied Bob on his credulity, and Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart's content.

"As good as gold," said Bob, "and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see."

And there is the wisdom of the small boy – he hoped that his disability would cause people to remember the great healer – Jesus of Nazareth. Dickens realized that disabled people often get "thoughtful" – reflective on the serious things of life and death, of walking and never walking. And in this reflection, Tiny Tim hoped that his disability would cause people to reflect on Jesus Christ.

Here is the wisdom of a serious young boy – it is to seek God's solution for the wretchedness of this world, whether his own physical sickness or Scrooge's spiritual sickness. The wisdom of Dickens' young character is that wisdom described in Scripture:

·    The boy feared God in reverence, rather than blaming God for his condition (Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.)

·      The boy lived humbly in his crippled situation and thought of others (Proverbs 11:2 But with the humble is wisdom)

·       He also looked to Jesus - acknowledging his weakness, he sought to use that weakness to point others to the Jesus he trusted.

 

And so, in less than 100 words, Dickens gave his least character the greatest role in the story – the wisdom to acknowledge the One who is the Light of the world, the One who leads to repentance, and the One who can redeem a man like Scrooge.

And Dickens reminded us of Scrooge's changed life in the final paragraph of this classic. And of his new life, Dickens closed his book with this: "May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!"

 

[1] Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol:  A Ghost Story of Christmas, 1843 Ed., Stave Three, The Second of Three Spirits. Accessed at https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm

 

 

 

 

 

Music Monday: "Oh Holy Night" by Adolphe Adam

Music Monday: "Oh Holy Night" by Adolphe Adam

 

 

My Apologies for the "radio silence" these past few weeks; I haven't been coping well with the loss of my wheelchair and felt little like writing. I know faithful readers are out there counting on me for some sense of hope, but I will be honest and say it isn't always easy. As humans, we tend to wallow in our circumstances instead of looking up…

There is still little word on my wheelchair being repaired. The latest is the parts were approved by Medicaid and have been ordered. I hoped I would have my wheelchair up and running by Christmas to get some freedom back, but that doesn't seem plausible.

Still…

Anything is possible with God. (Matthew 19:26)

I have been busy completing the challenge on Goodreads in my time away. Most of them were Christmas-related, but Karen Kingsbury recently wrote one (Forgiving Paris.) It dealt with the theme of forgiveness.  The part that struck me and continues to is how God remained faithful to the main character even when she felt like she was a lost cause-supernaturally protecting her from things when she didn't even know. Despite her mistakes, God was and is still a work in her life.

And in mine.

And in yours too!

Sometimes it's hard to remember that…

Anyway, you probably came here expecting a "Music Monday" post, and I intend to give you one. Inspired by a French poem entitled 'Minuit, chrétiens' (Midnight, Christians), the song got printed under 'Cantique de Noël.'

Known for his ability to write poetry, the church commissioned Placide Cappeau to pen something for Christmas Mass to commemorate a new organ; since he had no religious background, he relied on the Gospel of Luke to give him a glimpse into the Christmas story. Cappeau imagined what it must have been like for shepherds to see an angel in the flesh but to realize the reality of an age-old prophecy had been fulfilled. Moved by the final project, he enlisted the help of a friend Adolphe Adam, feeling it would be even better if put to music.

 

Despite working on several operas and ballets, Adam is best known for this song. Widely accepted, the song became popular in many Catholic churches until they discovered that Adams was a Jew and Cappeau left the church to become a member of the Socialist party.

 

To listen to Celine Dion's version of the Carol, it can be found here:

 

https://youtu.be/Y1oLk54R5Xg 

Postscript: I will try my hardest and post something on Christmas Eve, but if I don't get the opportunity. Have a Merry Christmas, and I hope you enjoy spending time with your loved ones; I have big plans for next year