Silent Night… Jingle Bells… Away in a Manger… Mary, Did You Know?… Baby, It’s Cold Outside… Hark, the Herald Angels Sing… the list goes on and on! No other season of the year has more songs linked with it than Christmas. Some are sacred, some are silly, some stir us to tears, and others make us smile. No matter what your favorites are, chances are you may get a little saturated. There’s at least one that makes you change the radio station or turn the volume down, or do whatever you do to move on! For my dad, it was The 12 Days of Christmas that he just couldn’t bear. But O, Holy Night would cause him to raise his hands in praise!

Buddy the Elf — played by Will Farrell in the movie Elf — is famous for the quote, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” He was a very innocent, maybe even naive, character that saw Christmas in the most simple terms. Everybody deserved a hug and a gift, and there was no room in his world for less than optimism. We’ve been a little more corrupted by living in a world that has been impacted by the ravages of sin, but we as Christians also have hope in Jesus Christ that renews us, cleanses us, and causes us to shine even in the darkest places. We can sing praises from hearts that have been redeemed, and there’s no time like Christmas to sing out, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth to all men!”