December Daily - December 6

This is the December 6 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague. (I know, I'm late!)

At Christmas, all roads lead home.  ~ Marjorie Holmes

Write about one symbol of the holidays that has particular meaning to you.

Well, since for our family Christmas is about the incarnation of Christ - the "symbol" of the holiday that holds particular meaning for me would be the baby in the manger.  The idea that He would give up the glory of heaven for the filth of a barn is absolutely amazing to me.  Frank Houghton (1894-1972) wrote a Christmas hymn based on one of my favorite verses - 2 Corinthians 8:9 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."  And, not a paid salesperson here - but an incredible version of this song can be purchased here:  http://www.beyondamazinggrace.com/store_item.php?item_id=38&cat_id=3c&currency=  This is our church's worship pastor and he wrote an arrangement of this hymn (using updated English) that is beautiful! 

Words are:
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becomes poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Our "do" is to attend church.  I didn't have anything scheduled for a "make" but Elizabeth was  awake late Sunday night, so we finished her Christmas cards (I took photos and will upload later).

The "Remember" prompt is: "Do you have any traditions or rituals with placing meaningful symbols or decorations in your home?"  I know some people who put out all the pieces of their Nativity except the Baby Jesus and they add that on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.  I put my nativities (I have more than one) out all at the same time, with the exception of the What God Wants for Christmas nativity that we do with the kids starting on 12/17.   The thing I love about the Willow Tree Nativity is that Mary is holding the baby...he's not just stuck in a manger.  I love the idea of her holding, cradling, loving her new baby. 

Oh, oh, oh...I'm sure I'm probably the last person on the planet to hear this song - but I heard it Sunday morning on the way to church and lost it.   "...humbled by the miracle of the Virgin's Lullabye"...  Virgin's Lullabye  I love how this video set it to scenes from The Nativity Story (which is such a great movie, by the way)