• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Home Sign In
  • Blog
    • Guest Post Submissions
  • Shop
  • Meet Us
    • Meet the Contributors
    • Meet the Staff
    • Our Story
    • Our Heart
  • (in)courage Library
    • Recommended Reads
    • Our Book Studies

(in)courage

a DaySpring community

(in)courage
(in)

Main navigation

  • Blog
    • Guest Post Submissions
  • Shop
  • Meet Us
    • Meet the Contributors
    • Meet the Staff
    • Our Story
    • Our Heart
  • (in)courage Library
    • Recommended Reads
    • Our Book Studies
  • Most Popular
  • Friendship
  • Encouragement
  • Courage
  • Posts By Author

Why We Are Truly Better Together —
and a Giveaway!

by (in)courage

Surrendering to the God Who Sees

by Faith Griffin Sims

The Hard Truth About How God Feels About You

by Michele Cushatt

25 Days of Christmas Promises:
a new Bible reading plan from (in)courage

by (in)courage

Letting Go This Christmas Season

by Anna Rendell

The Four Friends We Need in a Crisis

by Jennifer Dukes Lee

The Need for Seasonal Bookends During Change

by Kristen Strong

A Frustrating Part of the
Vulnerability Conversation

by Kristen Strong

When Rejection Crowds Out the Rest of the Story

by Marnie Hammar

Six Ways to Show up for a Friend

by Jessica Turner

How to Pour Honey on Someone’s Soul Today

by Becky Keife

The Hard Truth About How God Feels About You

by Michele Cushatt

Grace in the Midst of a Marriage Crisis

by Grace P. Cho

God Has Not Forgotten You

by Aliza Latta

When You Hear the Lies
That You’re Insignificant

by Lucretia Berry

It’s Our Tenth Birthday!

by Becky Keife

Let’s Be Dangerous Women

by Holley Gerth

Women of Courage: a Forty-Day Devotional
is Now Available (plus a BOGO & giveaway)!

by (in)courage

Can You See What I See?

by Robin Dance

The Truth Will Set You Free

by Aliza Latta

  • Alia Joy
  • Aliza Latta
  • Anjuli Paschall
  • Anna Rendell
  • Becky Keife
  • Bonnie Gray
  • Dawn Camp
  • Dorina Lazo Gilmore
  • Michelle Reyes
  • Grace P. Cho
  • Holley Gerth
  • (in)courage
  • Jennifer Ueckert
  • Jennifer Dukes Lee
  • Jennifer Schmidt
  • Jessica Turner
  • Kaitlyn Bouchillon
  • Karina Allen
  • Kristen Strong
  • Lucretia Berry
  • Mary Carver
  • Michele Cushatt
  • Patricia Raybon
  • Renee Swope
  • Robin Dance
  • Sarah Mae
  • Stephanie Bryant
  • Tasha Jun

o little town

by Emily Freeman Dec 23, 2009 in:Christmas

  • Share15
  • Tweet
  • Pin2
Email This ArticleEMAIL

I was living in the middle of another December. Behind the wheel of my minivan, Christmas to-do’s were on the list but my mind was distracted with brooding introverted things: life meaning, love longing and tired regret.

I was stuck somewhere between cloudy mood and daily task when the second verse to an old familiar Christmas hymn made its way up from the background.

Bethlehem

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

It was one of those rare moments when the veil is lifted and you get to see with eternal eyes. Alone in the car, the long ago reality of a little town, a God baby, a teenaged Mary and a genuine King became clear as never before. In that moment, long ago became right now.

Somehow He quietly slipped into humanity that night, born to die so I can have life. Not just life forever later, but life on this real day, in my car in the middle of my emotional rut. There is a choice of death or life, conflict or peace, despair or hope. Because if his birth isn’t significant for me right now, then it isn’t significant at all.

As I continued to drive, it began to seem as though she was singing about me and not a little town called Bethlehem. Among the sometimes dark streets of my soul, He shines His everlasting light. He chooses to be born in me so that life and peace are made available to me in limitless supply.

What Christmas song speaks to you?

by Emily

by Emily Freeman
  • Share15
  • Tweet
  • Pin2
Email This ArticleEMAIL

Emily Freeman

Emily P. Freeman is a writer who creates space for souls to breathe. She is the author of four books, including her most recent release, Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World. She and her husband live in North Carolina with their twin daughters and twinless son.
Author Bio       Author Website

PreviousNext

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristen - Moms Sharpening Moms says

    December 19, 2009 at 2:15 am

    “O Holy Night” is my favorite, especially:
    “The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.
    For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.”
    How often I have needed a fresh start, a “new and glorious morn” in my weariness!
    I am so thankful for Jesus!
    Merry Christmas, Emily!

  2. deb @talk at the table says

    December 23, 2009 at 6:55 am

    You have such a gift , Emily.
    Truly.
    To send words often heard to us in such poetry.
    That words become songs in our hearts.

  3. Natalie says

    December 23, 2009 at 8:28 am

    My top three faves: “Oh Holy Night” takes me straight to that night in Bethlehem and “Silent Night” is one that brings me to my knees every time. The last one, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” has always been a fave, too. Sara Groves’ version is wonderful.
    Thanks for a great post – I had a similar experience recently so reading your thoughts made me feel normal. Merry Christmas!

  4. Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage says

    December 23, 2009 at 8:39 am

    I love, love, LOVE “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” There’s something so soothing about the idea of celebrating such a wonderful event.
    Merry Christmas, Emily!
    Hugs,
    Gina

  5. Richella says

    December 23, 2009 at 8:41 am

    Lovely, lovely. And right and true.
    Isn’t it funny how words that are so familiar to us become mundane? As if, after all, the idea of the Lord of the Universe entering the world as the infant son of a peasant woman, who had to give birth to him in a stable and lay him down in a feeding trough were just a everyday though. Just like that Lord dying for me is ho-hum.
    What are we thinking? Are our minds really THAT crowded? Thank you for the reminder to be still and pay attention.
    Oh, and the song I love:
    Angels from the realms of glory
    Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
    You who sang Creation’s story
    Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
    Come and worship, come and worship
    Worship Christ the newborn King!
    I appreciate you so much, Emily!

  6. Meg says

    December 23, 2009 at 8:45 am

    My favorite Christmas song has always been “What Child is This.” (I actually walked down the aisle to it at my wedding). This song never fails to bring me to tears. It’s such a reminder of the true reason for the season. It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush of life, and forget how profound Christmas really is. Thank you for your thoughts!

  7. Abbie says

    December 23, 2009 at 8:49 am

    You are so right, thanks for the reminder that “if his birth isn’t significant for me right now, then it isn’t significant at all.”
    Merry Christmas!

  8. Amber@theRunaMuck says

    December 23, 2009 at 9:32 am

    I love you, Emily.
    Christmas song? Silent Night. I just learned that the actual factual Saint Nicholas was the priest presiding over the first service that ear heard Silent Night.
    I need quiet, rest right now, and so in the same way, Silent Night isn’t only about Jesus being nestled into his mother and her awe over him. It’s also about my resting with the Father. I’m so thankful that Jesus made the way for my peace.

  9. Tammy says

    December 23, 2009 at 9:45 am

    The song that has really been speaking to me this year is Bethlehem Calls by Newsong
    “Bethlehem calls
    To the great and the small
    It’s Christmas won’t you come
    The heart of God says come
    To the broken and wounded ones
    No matter how far you’ve run
    His mercy calls out to come
    Christ is the babe
    Who has come to save us all”

  10. Linda says

    December 23, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    When I hear “For Unto Us a Child Is Born,” it just brings me to my knees. The mighty names of Jesus – what a precious gift we have been given.
    Beautifully written Emily. Thank you.

  11. adornedlife says

    December 23, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    our worship leader, stopped in the middle of singing the following carol last year and said, “have you listened? have you heard the words?…” we repeated it, then sang it acapella, slowly and let the message sink in. it has become my favorite.
    God rest ye merry, gentlemen
    Let nothing you dismay
    Remember, Christ, our Saviour
    Was born on Christmas day
    To save us all from Satan’s power
    When we were gone astray
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Comfort and joy
    O tidings of comfort and joy
    praying that the tidings of comfort and joy – the Truth of being rescued by the giving of the Son by the Father, and the giving of Himself by the Son on our behalf, while we were lost, will be like it must have been for the shepherds that night when the angel said, “fear not i bring you good news of great joy!…oh yes, and all the verses of this carol are just as good! 🙂

  12. Gail says

    December 23, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    You wrote this for me, right?

  13. Shaunie Friday says

    December 24, 2009 at 2:20 am

    So beautifully written Emily! It really touches me where I am this Christmas–and I loved how you saw Bethlehem personified in your own heart and welcomed His light into your moment. That is a thought I will keep close.
    Christmas songs I love:
    Breath of Heaven–I was pregnant with my daughter when this song came out and I just so identified with how Mary must have been feeling.
    “Breath of Heaven, hold me together,
    be forever near me, Breath of Heaven.
    Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness,
    pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy, Breath of Heaven.”
    How often I pray that prayer.
    Another one I love is Joy, Joy by David Phelps. It tells the Christmas story from its beginning in Heaven:
    “Angels folded their wings,
    at the throne worshiping
    as God whispered, ‘I love You my Son.’
    Jesus took off His crown, and laying it down said, ‘Father, Thy will be done.'”
    One more, Mary Did You Know?
    “Mary did you know
    That your baby boy
    Is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
    This sleeping child you’re holding
    Is the GREAT I AM.
    Mary did you know?”
    My soul sings! Thanks for the chance to share these!! Merry Christmas!!

  14. amy says

    December 24, 2009 at 11:04 am

    o come, o come, emmanuel. and ranson captive israel. (or am i longing for his ransom?)
    amy

  15. Leslie says

    December 24, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    I was moved to tears this year by the words “…in His name all oppression will cease…” in the middle of my friend’s rendition of “O Holy Night” during church. My mind went to places in the world which are filled with oppression and strife, then I saw a clear picture of my very own neighborhood – less obvious oppression behind closed doors. One day…all oppression will cease. How can I be an agent of comfort to ease the oppression around me?

  16. Agen Bola Terpercaya says

    January 8, 2014 at 9:12 am

    Link exchange is nothing else however it is only placing the other person’s
    blog link on your page at proper place and other person will also do similar in support of you.

Blog

  • Subscribe

    Sign up for daily words of courage and hope. By clicking ‘join’ you will receive daily emails and the monthly newsletter from (in)courage. See our privacy policy here.

    THANK YOU.

    Your first email is on the way.

    * PLEASE ENTER A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS
  • Get the (in)courage Devotional Bible today!

  • Send an (in)courage e-card to a friend today

  • Yesterday, 7:12pm

    Follow On Twitter
  • Footer

    (in)
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    Instagram
    YouTube

    Subscribe

    THANK YOU.

    Your first email is on the way.

    * PLEASE ENTER A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS

    By clicking ‘join’ you will receive daily emails and the monthly newsletter from (in)courage. See our privacy policy here.

    copyright 2019 DaySpring. all rights reserved.

    Main navigation

    • Blog
      • Guest Post Submissions
    • Shop
    • Meet Us
      • Meet the Contributors
      • Meet the Staff
      • Our Story
      • Our Heart
    • (in)courage Library
      • Recommended Reads
      • Our Book Studies