A Very Special Night
Every Christmas, the boyfriend (AKA my husband) and I plan one special date night out on the town. In the past, we’ve gone to other parts of the city to look at elaborate Christmas light displays. We’ve attended Christmas concerts. We’ve dressed up in something other than jeans and enjoyed lingering over a delicious meal at a “fancy” restaurant.
This year, we drove downtown on a misty, chilly evening for dinner in a cozy seafood restaurant. Afterward, we went over to the symphony hall to listen to the very talented youth symphony and chorale.
Our high school neighbor plays in the symphony, and his parents are always letting us know the schedule for his performances. We decided to make the Christmas concert our special night out for the season, and I’m so glad we did!
The conductor was entertaining and engaging as he introduced each piece of music. And oh, my goodness, those kids were talented! Each one sang or played with intensity and focus, and the audience was the glad recipient of their efforts.
About two-thirds of the way through the program was an audience sing-along. All of the selected songs turned out to be traditional Christmas carols – “The First Noel,” “Silent Night,” “Hark the Herald, Angels Sing,” “Away in a Manger,” and a couple of others. The words were printed on the program, but I just laid mine in my lap, closed my eyes, and sang along with these beloved Christmas standards.
The orchestra and the chorale complemented each other beautifully. As I listened to their artful performance, I couldn’t help but imagine the majesty of the choir of angels and saints praising God in song around His glorious throne in heaven.
I thought of the announcement of the angel of the Lord and of the multitude of angels who celebrated the Savior’s birth among a motley crew of shaggy shepherds on a clear, dark night on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Those angels praised God – did they sing with joy? I wondered – did the shepherds weep with the sheer beauty of that holy announcement? Or was it just me on this sweet evening in December 2025, listening to these time-honored Christmas hymns, sensing the very nearness of God, tears rolling down my cheeks?
I do know that the praise of those angels prompted the shepherds to seek out the Messiah and fall on their knees in worship before Him. And sitting in that symphony hall, for all I cared, it could’ve been just me and Jesus – me on my face in worship, gratitude, and love. May the carols of the season strike in our hearts an awe and joy and wonder at what the Lord has done for us! And may the beauty of it all draw those who are seeking Him into the presence of the One Who is worthy of all praise.
*****
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, Who was lying in a manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them…The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” – Luke 2:8-18, 20
