We have evolved as Christmas celebrators, in fact many now call Christmas "winter break" or just "the holiday season". So, Christmas feels like it's been stolen, at least co-opted for sure! Truth be known, when we set out to write our first set of Christmas songs, we didn't set out to poke a proverbial finger in anyone's eyes, it was a default setting to go to scripture. In the end, we realized that it was near impossible to write about Christmas without writing about the reason for Christmas, that first one.

So, there I was, writing verse two, it went like this: "How unlikely can this story be, His majesty would come for one like me?" Then, bam! There was absolutely no getting around it, "Immanuel was born to die, it's the wonder of redemption from on high". It was like a dose of reality hitting me in the face!

Will our songs cause discomfort? Maybe. Because they don't croon about a winter-wonderland, or wax sentimental about roasting chestnuts. These are all amazing, nostalgic memories of awesome Christmases past, and those are wonderful. But "That First Christmas" just sort of takes us down a road of gratitude too. Let's go ahead, "ring the bells of Christmas loud and clear" as it says in verse three. But it continues;
     "see the King of glory has drawn near
     Royalty in a manager lay
     It's the miracle of heaven's prince of Peace
     Lord of all as helpless babe
     Let's praise the King!"

That is cause for celebration! A grateful heart for that very first Christmas, think about it . . .