The Chellsen Clan: It’s Christmas Time

During this Christmas season we have been singing some of the traditional Christmas songs, and I am always moved to tears as we sing and reflect upon the birth of Jesus.
I love birth stories - hearing others, telling my own.

Each and every one of the births of our 8 children has a story…

a story of love - a love at first sight kind of story,

       a love that goes beyond all words…
                    a story of hope and promise - as each child was held for the first time

                              a story with a new song of it’s own.

the angels sang a song at His birth…    at the birth of Jesus:

Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Their song was…
Gloria in excelsis Deo - Glory to God in the Highest…

As I reflect upon the words of my favorite Christmas song:

In the city on the hill
Hear the bells chime
Peace on earth good will
It’s Christmas time
Glad tidings we will bring
of Christ the new born king
And with the angels sing at Christmas time
It’s Christmas time.
Glo...ho...ho...oo..ria
In exelcis Deo...

I have been reflecting upon what it means to sing Gloria in ecelsis Deo - to sing Glory to God in the Highest.

to sing this song of praise… this song that the angels sing,

         this song of new birth - the celebration of the birth of Christ
              this song that brings glad tidings - good new
                     this song that brings good will and peace.

   What it means to be a city on a hill

        that sings Glory to God in the Highest.


           Jesus taught us with His own words:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”