Silent Night, Holy Night . . .
December 22, 2019
Everything, everything is . . .
Quiet.
Like silence, but not really silent.
Just that still sort of quiet.
Like the sound of a page being turned in a book,
Or a pause in a walk in the woods.
During the past three weeks or so, everything and everyone has been screaming at me to be silent. Between Grace Anne's email about it, a homily at Mass one day, and maybe a blog post or two, the timing of everything has been very close together.
This is definitely God's way of telling me to sit down, shut up, and listen.
Quiet.
Like silence, but not really silent.
Just that nice kind of quiet.
Like the sound when you lie upside-down in your bed.
Just the sound of your heart in your head.
Everything at Christmastime screams. Advertisements, music, priorities, stress, exams, gifts . . . it all snowballs into constant noise, whether outside or in our minds.
I'd like to think that it was the same way the night Jesus was born. A busy Bethlehem, crowded from the census, and in the middle of it all, a man and woman looking for someplace to spend the night.
And even when they found a small stable to reside in, there were still animals, and I imagine they were not overly happy about having to share their stable. XD
And though the people around me
Their mouths are still moving,
The words they are forming
Cannot reach me anymore.
Jesus was born into a loud world - maybe not loud with technology, but loud in other ways. He was born into a world that was bound to nail him to a tree, to crucify him, to condemn him even though he did nothing wrong.
He knew all of this would happen.
And yet . . . he still came, as an infant, in the lowliest of ways. Shouldn't we give that a moment of silence, just to comprehend that love?
And it is quiet
And I am warm,
Like I've sailed
Into the eye of the storm.
Even in a loud world, some people still heard his voice and followed him. So too should we follow His voice.
This Christmas, even though it's loud and busy and stressful and fun-filled, go to church. Pray with your family.
And for just a moment, be silent.
And listen.
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Merry Christmas, everyone! <3
15 comments
YESSSS. What beautiful, true words! My month has been CRAZY when I really, really need to just rest, relax, be silent and soak up this time of celebrating our Savior and stop stressing so much. Thank you for that reminder. <3
ReplyDeleteI do hope you have the merriest Christmas, Nicole!!!
Thank you, Christine! Haha, I feel exactly the same way - it can be hard to just stop sometimes. <3
DeleteThank you - and I hope you have a very merry Christmas too!!!
What a coincidence! My priest also spoke about silence today too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Nicole!
*gasp* You’ve discovered my secret connection with your priest! You weren’t meant to find out yet! ;)
DeleteAll joking aside, thank you, Catherine! <3
This is beautiful, girl. So achingly true! Merry merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you Kara, and Merry Christmas to you too! :)
DeleteNicole, this is SUCH a beautiful post! I really needed to here this lovely message. Happy holidays <33333
ReplyDelete*hear...don’t you just love autocorrect? smh haha
DeleteOh my goodness, THANK YOU, Ash - and same to you! <3 <3
Delete(XD XD it’s autocorrect's gift to you this holiday season . . . ;) )
Merry Christmas! And what a great post. Christmas Eve is always my favorite night to go to church.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! Ooo, nice! Honestly, I’ve never been to church on Christmas Eve, but I really want to go one day.....
DeleteI really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Nicole!
Thank you, Diamond, and Merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteJ+M+J
ReplyDeleteYes!! This has got to be the best post I've read of yours yet... good luck beating yourself too, because its sooo true!
The world can't stand silence... *why?* Because in the silence their consciences scream out at them, which is unbearable... God talks to them, which is unthinkable... and beauty shines forth brilliantly, which is abhorrent... the world nowadays shuns beauty, which is why silence is so feared! Because silence really is just such a beautiful thing... as it humbles us to be quiet. We want to be the sole source of attention... of sound... and silence makes us realize that really the most beautiful sound in the world is the Word of God and not us.....
I'll stop now, haha.... Can you tell why I loved this post so much?
Merry Christmas, Happy new year, and have a blessed (late) Solemnity of the Virgin Mary!!
The Doorman.
Aw, thank you! :D
DeleteAnd YES, that is precisely it! You said it far better than I ever could! *cheering*
XD XD
Thank you - and a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Blessed Solemnity to you as well!
Welcome to the comment section! I love hearing what you guys think and seeing you guys talk. Just remember to keep it clean, and as always, check back for my replies! <3
-Nicole