There are some things in life that you really can’t explain the importance of to someone who isn’t a part of it or hasn’t had the chance to experience it for themselves. I feel like the children’s program on Christmas Eve at our tiny church in Wiedeville is one of these. There’s something about watching the kiddos tell us the meaning of the season, and no matter if I’ve heard it 967 times before, it always resonates and makes it feel like Christmas is really here! I just love hearing the little voices sing the 1st verse of Away in the Manger and then trail off on versus 2-4 until the chorus, at which point it becomes a “Who can sing loudest” contest, watching to see who will be this year’s star of the program, singing Christmas hymns with my family surrounding me, hearing Oscar’s voice a few rows behind me, holding Kyle’s hand during the message, the smell of the Church’s hymnals, reminiscing about programs past and my role in each, making eye contact with Katie randomly and giggling, grimacing and hoping that the kids don’t catch anything on fire with their lit candles as the program comes to an end, how each and every year the program ends in darkness with only candlelight glimmering on the faces of each and every person in attendance as we all sing Silent Night (hopefully you know the words cause its impossible to read the tiny words by candlelight). It’s one of those simple things in life that you only get to enjoy once a year, but you cherish every second and hope that others have the chance to experience something just as special!
Takes you back 20 years…Doesn’t it?!?!?!?
beautifully written
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