Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus!  Sounds of instruments playing in past years ring throughout my blessed home and bring so many memories of family, friends, and beautiful shared events back to my heart.  In the solitudes of Dan Gibson’s, “Christmas Classics,” CD with nature sounds, I am home where every bird singing is a child’s gleeful voice, every sound of ocean waves is my mother hovering around us as we open our gifts, and every sound of a choir humming is my father singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” in his study.

In the distance, a bell is tolling to remind us You are calling us to love one another as You have loved us, to put aside our grievances and bring peace and hope to those who are lost, and to let our single candles become one candle so that Your light will shine throughout the world.  All the hymns sung today mean nothing is You are not in our hearts.  Your manger reminds us that You came so that we might have Eternal life.  You are in my heart, Jesus, and I owe You my life.  Glory Hallelujah! Christ is born today!

Anna Hartt