Jesus Lord at thy birth

my cute oldest son

My favorite sacred Christmas song is “Silent Night”.  It has been for as long as I can remember.  But the year I had my first son the song changed for me.  He was born in May, so when the Christmas songs started in November he was 6 months old.  One night I was rocking him to sleep and singing “Silent Night” to him.  As I started to sing the 3^rd verse the deep meaning of the song sunk deep into my heart.  In case you have forgotten the words they are as follows:

Silent Night, Holy Night

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth;

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

As I sang, looking into my firstborn son’s sweet face it hit me that when Jesus Christ was a newborn he was already the Savior of the world.  With his birth came the dawn of hope and redeeming grace for all of us.  Within that tiny baby was the potential to save the world, in that sweet face was the Love of God.

I looked down into my son's face and I wondered what potential was inside him from birth?  What great mission was he going to accomplish on this earth?  Inside him was greatness and unlimited potential even in that tiny body.  Our son came to us already who he was deep inside and it was my job as his mother to unlock that potential and greatness. 

You see I believe that our children’s personalities come with them straight from God.  We as parents shape and guide them, but we can’t or shouldn’t try and change who they innately are.  Their personality traits are given to them from a loving Heavenly Father.

As I sing that song (and almost always tear up)at this time of year I look at my children and wonder if I am helping them unlock their God given purpose and character inside them here on earth?  Am I guiding them in the right path, am I loving them enough and expecting enough of them?

Our children are on loan to us from a loving Father who allows us to be parents to refine and shape us.  He has given us His Son as an example of how to love and teach our children.  I am eternally grateful for that greatest gift of all.

Here is an absolutely beautiful version of "Silent Night"