Tonight our quartet is singing for a Christmas party of about 50-60 people. It is hosted by a dear lady who annually invites friends to celebrate this Christmas time together. She always includes those who are hurting to give them a lift. The time is more of a singspiration than a concert. Each year when this happens the gentleman who leads this event asks for me to sing “O Holy Night”. He called yesterday morning asking if I’d do this again. I was driving to a counseling appointment at the time so I thought I’d take advantage of the drive and sing through the song making sure I still remembered all of the words. As I got to the last verse which starts, “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….” I couldn’t sing any longer.

I was flooded with thanksgiving for the multitude of chains Christ has broken for me. I had been such a slave to the haunting memories of my past. I had no idea what Freedom in Christ was even like. I’ve been singing this song since I was a sophomore in high school where I sang it for the first time in our school’s Christmas program. Each year since then I’ve sung it for numerous Christmas events. Tonight, however, I will sing it with a new creation’s thankfulness. I’m not sure I’ll make it through the song, but the message of thankfulness for this Holy Night where our Savior was born will be shared.