Family Matters: Let Heaven and nature sing

Published 8:00 am Thursday, December 19, 2019

Are you ready for Christmas? People have been asking me that for weeks, and the answer is (still) no.

No if by “ready” you mean do I have all my gifts bought and wrapped, the fridge and pantry stocked and my nightcap firmly in place in anticipation of settling myself down for a long winter’s nap.

If, however, by being “ready for Christmas” you mean being “ready to celebrate Christ’s birth,” then the answer is a resounding yes!

I’m always ready for that.

Literally.

I even keep a CD of Christmas songs in my car all year long. Whenever I drive anywhere alone, I crank the music up and belt those carols out at the top of my lungs. Joy to the World! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her king!

I’ve even been known to write a few verses myself.

Since at the time this column came due, I was on a weeklong family vacation in San Antonio (obviously pushing the envelope to see how much longer I could procrastinate finishing my Christmas shopping), I decided to share some such verses with you this week. I hope reading these stanzas will rekindle in your heart some wonder and amazement over the real reason for this season — no matter how many tasks on your to-do list still need to be checked off before Dec. 25.

“Heaven Song”

A girl once lived in Galilee —

Let Heaven and nature sing —

Whom God sent Gabriel to see

Let Heaven and nature sing

Her name was Mary; she was young

The angel called, “Hail, favored one,

“The Child you bear shall be God’s son”

Let Heaven and nature sing

Then Mary asked, “How can this be?”

Let Heaven and nature sing

“I’ve never known a man, said she

Let Heaven and nature sing

“Fear not,” said Gabriel, “it is true,

“God’s Spirit shall o’ershadow you

“The Babe will bring salvation, too

Let Heaven and nature sing

So Mary paused to testify

Let Heaven and nature sing

“Behold the Lord’s handmaid”

Let Heaven and nature sing

Then joy within her heart was stirred

“My soul doth magnify the Lord

“May it be according to His word”

Let Heaven and nature sing

Soon Caesar issued a decree

Let Heaven and nature sing

“Commanding all to pay a fee”

Let Heaven and nature sing

So Mary, being great with Child,

Was put upon a donkey mild

And led by Joseph through the wild

Let Heaven and nature sing

They traveled unto Bethlehem

Let Heaven and nature sing

The inns there had no room for them

Let Heaven and nature sing

Yet one keeper pity took

On seeing Mary’s heavy look

And showed them to a stable nook

Let Heaven and nature sing

There it was God’s Son was born

Let Heaven and nature sing

In the wee small hours of the morn

Let Heaven and nature sing

‘Twas in that dark and dusty place,

The Virgin Mother, full of grace,

First looked upon her Savior’s face

Let Heaven and nature sing

As shepherds watched their flocks by night

Let Heaven and nature sing

Lo, they beheld a wondrous light

Let Heaven and nature sing

To them an angel did appear

Who told the shepherds do not fear

“I bring you tidings of great cheer”

Let Heaven and nature sing

“Good will be yours and peace on earth”

Let Heaven and nature sing

“For I proclaim Messiah’s birth”

Let Heaven and nature sing

“A Child is born to you this day

“And in a manger now doth lay

“Upon a bed of fresh, sweet hay”

Let Heaven and nature sing

Then hosts of angels filled the sky

Let Heaven and nature sing

All glory be to God most high”

Let Heaven and nature sing

Let Heaven and nature sing

And when the angels went away

The shepherds all began to say,

“We must go see this Child today”

Let Heaven and nature sing

In haste to Bethlehem they trod

Let Heaven and nature sing

To find the infant Son of God

Let Heaven and nature sing

All wrapped in swaddling clothes was He

The One the shepherds came to see

With humble hearts, on bended knee

Let Heaven and nature sing

Some wise men traveled from afar —

Let Heaven and nature sing —

Led by a bright and burning star

Let Heaven and nature sing

“Frankincense, gold and myrrh we bring

“As homage to the newborn King,”

They spake as they were worshipping

Let Heaven and nature sing

May all join in this song of old

Let Heaven and nature sing

The one the prophets long foretold

Let Heaven and nature sing

Emanuel, this Babe so small,

Was born within a cattle stall —

The Word made flesh, the Lord of all!

Let Heaven and nature sing

Almighty God, the Prince of Peace —

Let Heaven and nature sing —

Did come to purchase our release

Let Heaven and nature sing

He came to open Heaven’s door

To you and me forevermore

O come, ye faithful, Christ adore!

Let Heaven and nature sing

Let all creation find its voice —

Let Heaven and nature sing —

And in the Lamb of God rejoice

Let Heaven and nature sing!

Christ came to take away our sin

If we’ll but put our trust in Him

So that we might be born again

Let Heaven and nature sing —

All Heaven and nature sing!

Jennifer Flanders wrote this poem back in 2013 while camping out under the stars. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim his handiwork.” To read more from this author, please visit https://lovinglifeathome.com.