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Luke 2:11 – For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (NKJV)
In July of 2010, my mother-in-law died, and we inherited her old, well-used hymnbook. In the Christmas carol section of this hymnal, she had glued in a poem written by our daughter around 1977, when she was about eighteen years old. We were living in Europe at that time, so she must have sent this poem to her grandmother here in Canada at Christmastime. I was moved by the words that she had written at such a young age. She had entitled it, "The night our Lord was born".
- There were no trumpets and no feasts
There were no richly laden beasts
The night our Lord was born
There were no warm rooms and no heat
There were no blankets clean and neat
The night our Lord was born
There was a stable and some straw
There was a manger, crude and raw
The night our Lord was born
There were some shepherds and some sheep
Who heard the angels; could not sleep
The night our Lord was born
Make sure you're present, sure you're there
And tell Him clearly that you care
The night our Lord was born
– Debora T. Jongkind-Dehart
One way that we can clearly tell our Lord that we care is to think carefully about the wonderful words of the traditional Christmas carols that we know and love. It is so easy just to sing them without thinking about their meaning. Although there appears to be a concentrated effort to remove Christ from Christmas, and many other Christmassy-type songs have infiltrated the airwaves, the old Christmas carols are still loved by many and it is a joy to hear and sing them at this time of the year. As we do so, it is good to really study these words and to realize that the Holy Spirit inspired the authors to write them. They have spoken to the hearts of millions of people, and they continue to speak to our hearts even now. Let us think about that when we again remember the night our Lord was born.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, it is our sincere prayer that more people will hear and believe the words of the carols that they will sing and listen to. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Beautiful poem Joel. Have a Merry Christmas.
Amen. Blessings. Thank you for this most meaningful message.
Joel, thanks for sharing your daughter’s poem in today’s devotional. It blessed me so much. Blessings.
I enjoyed your daughter’s poem. We all must remember and remind others to put Christ back in Christmas.
Thanks for sharing your daughter’s beautiful poem today. May you and your family have a truly blessed Christmas season.
Thanks, Joel, for sharing this poem. It was inspired, as you described it, but also inspiring. I felt encouraged after reading it.
I wish you a wonder-filled Christmas and a great 2017.
That said: I would like to pass on your daughter’s poem to selected people. Thank you.
Super, Joel. Merry Christmas. I am afraid with the commercialism to day we have lost the TRUE meaning of Christmas, outlined in your poem.
Merry Christmas!!
Joel
What a wonder you have brought to times gone by! Not only for you but for your readers. Thank you.
Joel: As I set aside time to re-read the content of this morning’s Devotional with it’s simple but so true devoted poem of Deborah’s, all I have to say is, “Thanks Joel… Amen and Amen”.
My first thought was to wonder if your daughter is still writing. What a wonderful gift and a very special remembrance for our Lord’s birth.
Thank you… and your daughter… Joel. We will be going away to spend Christmas with all our children and grandchildren and will carry those verses with us.
(Texas)
Thanks for sharing your daughter’s wonderful poem !
I will treasure it forever. Read it over many times and share it with my friends Thanks again
Wishing you and your family a truly blessed Christmas and may 2017 be a year of prosperity… a continual flow of God’s Blessings.
Greetings Joel;
We continue to appreciate and are motivated through your Daily Devotional ministry. Today’s version is no exception. You contribute significantly to our spiritual health.
We wish you all the blessings of this special time of year, a happy Christmas and good health in 2017.
I am very impressed by the poem created by your daughter at a young age. She showed great insight and creativity.
Blessings.
Good morning, Joel
I did so appreciate your contribution today – in fact, every time!
This morning you commented on the old carols and said this :”it is good to really study these words and to realize that the Holy Spirit inspired the authors to write them”
I would add that the same Holy Spirit it was who gave the words of that poem to your daughter. What a blessing to many.
Merry Christmas to you and those you love.
Amen to those sentiments, Joel. The words are so pure and touching.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I continually pray that God is willingly accepted into the hearts, minds and spirits of all who do not know Him. They have no concept of the difference it makes.
With Jesus, life has meaning just as the words of the old carols have meaning. They are a part of our (Christian – and western world) traditions, and they transport me back to younger years, plus give me a sense of purpose when Christmas arrives. The retail trade makes it all so vulgar…. .but we know differently.
Thank you for your continued, wonderful, writing.
Wow, that was wonderful. What a great poem. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
God bless.
Joel, your sister’s poem is precious; thank you for sharing. As you mentioned, there’s a radio station in my area that’s been playing mostly secular Christmas music – no mention of our Savior’s birth. It’s up to individual believers and churches to share the good news and keep Christ in Christmas. May your holiday season be blessed with the true meaning of this special day. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you for blessing me with another devotional. It is much appreciated. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!