The Twelve Days of Christmas – The Greatest Gift of All
Over the past few weeks I have presented my interpretation of the gifts sent by True love to his Beloved on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” I hope you have enjoyed my musings and learned something in the processs.
However in this fast moving, materialistic world in which we live, I believe the true meaning of Christmas and why we sing Christmas Carols, has been lost. Many either are unaware or choose to ignore what it is we celebrate at Christmas.
God sent His only Son in the form of a tiny baby. Jesus was God’s gift to a needy world. THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life “ (John 3:16)
“O Holy Night” (“Cantique de Noël“) is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem “Minuit, chrétiens” (Midnight, Christians) by Placide Cappeau (1808–1877), a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem. Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight’s Journal of Music, created a singing edition based on Cappeau’s French text in 1855. In both the French original and in the two familiar English versions of the carol, the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of mankind’s redemption.
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til 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.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!
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.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
If we all lived according to His teachings and patterned our lives on the life He lived , there would be no more hatred, strife and war. As we look at our world today we need Him more than ever.
At this Christmas time, I would challenge you to investigate Jesus. My prayer is that you would come to know Him for yourself
Please remember that Jesus is The Reason for The Season – The Greatest Gift of All
Doctor Bill
Previous posts in the Series :
The Twelve days of Christmas Day 1
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 2
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 3
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 4
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 5
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 6
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 7
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 8
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 9
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 10
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 11
The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 12
or loosening the tension rods the pitch of the drum sound can be changed. Next time you see a classical orchestra performing, watch the timpanist. If the music changes key you will see the timpanist turning the screws which alter the tension on the drum membrane, although today this has been made easier for the timpanist by using mechanisms which require only one handle to operate.
