Bleak Midwinter JOY

We don't know for sure the month that our Savior was born, we are just told that "the time came for her baby to be born" in Luke 2:6-7. But for alot of us we celebrated the Christmas season during the bleak midwinter. Sometimes we enjoyed a break with mild temps, so one could ride a new 2-wheeler (with Dad holding on to the seat for safety) the very day that it was found under the tree (or on the front porch as Santa could not get it down the chimney). But there were other times when the thermometer plunged down to -25 on Christmas eve and, although there might be protests, Mom would bundle everyone up, Dad would warm up the car and we would all join in our traditional candle lit service at church.

Christina Rosetti wrote a simple yet powerful poem, In the Bleak Midwinter, that has some vivid images of that night. Look at some of the phrases in vs. 1, "Snow on snow, snow on snow" and "earth stood hard as iron" to describe the winter-ness of the night. The 2nd verse gives us the paradox of that occasion, "He comes to reign...a stable place sufficed". The 3rd verse is precious as the"cherubim and seraphim thronged the air" and "His mother...worshiped the beloved with a kiss."

But perhaps it is in the 4th verse that we are confronted with our inadequacy as humans to present HIM with a gift and Rosetti sums up this simple, profound hymn with these words: "Yet what I can I give Him: Give my heart."

Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) was part of a family that was interesting and influential in arts and letters. This poem was set to music 12 years after her death by the English composer, Gustav Holst, better know for his large orchestral compositions (The Planets). Holst wrote the music early in his career. And Christina, a devout Anglican, was well known and respected for her books of poetry which were largely religious.

The words to this beautiful hymn are here:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/n/intbleak.htm

If you are in bleak circumstances, climate or heart, I pray this will help you focus on the GIFT of the Lord Jesus Christ and that your joy may be full as your give your heart to HIM.