Silent Night! Holy
Night!
Son of God, Loves
pure light
Radiant beams from
Thy Holy face
With the Dawn of
Redeeming Grace
Jesus Lord at Thy
birth
Jesus Lord at Thy
birth
These are the familiar words of the third verse of the Carol
we all know as Silent Night, written by Father Mohr and set to music by Franz
Gruber in 1818 in a little village in Austria. Have you ever really paid
attention to those words? In them we can find the true significance of God,
wearing the clothing of human skin, coming to earth to bring Light and Grace. That
very first Christmas was the beginning of a story of Grace that has changed the
lives of all who have accepted it.
Grace is a beautiful thing. It is the granting of a pardon where
it is unearned and undeserved. Perhaps this comes about by the miraculous
ability to see things through the eyes of another. In his message on Sunday,
the Pastor stated that, “Grace is the unsettling solution for just about
everything.” Imagine how our relationship dynamics could change, how our
arguments could be tamed, how our marriages could be impacted if showered with
grace. I am not sure how that would look for everyone else, but for me,
extending grace begins when I can grasp that my perspective is not the only
perspective in the house that is of value. When I am able to look
at the history of another person and allow myself to feel what they must be
feeling to create the behaviors they are exhibiting, it truly changes my response to them. People aren’t just
arbitrarily nimrods. There is a reason behind their words and actions. Imagine what it may be, if
you don’t know, and let that transform the way you feel about them.
“But he doesn’t deserve it!” “She made this mess, now she
can reap the consequences.” If you were wondering if you are a grace-filled
person, I propose that if those sentences are a foundational part of your mindset, the answer
is NO. Grace sounds like, “He may not deserve my best,
but I am giving it anyway,” or “She really messed this up, but I feel like I
have made some mistakes, too, and I should help her correct it.” Is it easy?
Nope! In fact, the literal verse from the pen of Father Mohr says,
Silent Night! Holy
Night!
Brought the world
peace tonight,
From the heavens’
golden height
Shows the grace of
His holy might
Jesus, as man on
this earth!
Jesus, as man on
this earth!
If you are a little short of “Holy Might” you may want to ask
God for the strength it takes to extend the grace that is needed in order to
bring healing to your home. It is far simpler to give a cold shoulder and not
build a strong relationship. But, in the end, all you have is the end if you
are unwilling to shower others with grace.
“The Word [Story
of God] became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his
glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth.”
John 1:14
Since we are created in His image, perhaps we will find our
greatest fulfillment when we are full of grace and truth. What a wonderful
Christmas gift to give to your family!
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