The Music...Yes

The day:  December 24, 2015.  Christmas Eve.
The situation:  It is warm outside...60+ degrees....with no hope of snow in sight.
The mood:  Hopeful but not at all Christmasy.

My family--daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren--arrived the day before.  All of their worldly belongings are packed on a moving van somewhere.  They've had no Christmas tree, and any Christmas presents that they receive must be something that can go through the airport or be shipped later as they prepare to depart the Midwest to move to the Seattle area by air.  I feel grim.  All I can offer them is cash and hope, but it doesn't feel right.  It isn't enough.  The holiday seems hollow.

The only stipulation I had for the day, other than good food, was for us all to attend a candlelight service at church at 9:00 PM.  (There were several other services but this was the last one of the day that would have choir and orchestra.)  I was so tired, I came close to canceling out on that, but a few minute's rest helped.  Oh, how very happy I am that we went!  It changed everything for me!

In the sanctuary, there was our choir and an orchestra, invited by our hugely talented Music Director. With the lights behind the cross and the gorgeous music, it became a time of peace amid the turmoil. Peace...beauty...moments so seriously needed to make Christmas seem like Christmas.  The service didn't disappoint!  We lit our candles at the end and sang Silent Night.  Oh, the happy peace of the night!  What a difference it made in my attitude!

It is the music that makes all the difference.  Take away music and the world stops.
I don't know if the service had the same effect on the rest of my family.  All I know is that it made it all happen for me.  Our meager gifts for each other the next morning paled against the backdrop of Peace On Earth and knowing that we were all together.  I hope life and love survive the holidays.  I'm just so very grateful that I could share this Christmas Eve with my family.  God bless us. every one!