Silent Night

Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright,
‘Round yon virgin mother and Child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

The holiday season in my family always began with a road trip to both my grandparents’ homes for our two Thanksgiving dinners! We lived five hours away and excitement would build in the early morning hours as we headed to their homes.

Coming back to my house on Sunday evenings would be just as exciting but in a different way. The Christmas season would be heralded in by my mom and dad beginning the sing-a-long of Christmas songs. My favorite was when mom would sing Silent Night. Her voice sounded like an angel. The dark coldness of the car would grow warm with the advent of Christmas in this song. To me, the song told of the sweet joyfulness of the birth of the Holy Infant. As a child, the gloriousness of the light-filled night described in the song, created a joy that lasted the season.

Through the years, my favorite verse has been the third verse… “Son of God, love’s pure light.” The remembrance of the birth of Christ allows us to see what the purity of love looks like. In John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus did that when He was crucified for our sins. Christmas shines a light on Christ’s love and sacrifice beginning with His birth.

In the song Silent Night, I am reminded that God’s greatness is shown in the quiet stillness, in the birth of a baby and in the whisper of His abundant love. This Christmas may we all see “the glories stream from heaven” as we listen for the baby’s cry and see love’s pure light.

— Debbie Huneycutt

Question of the Day
What are some small, quiet things you notice around you that remind you of God’s abundant love?