Christmas Discovery

I've discovered something new this Christmas.
No, it's not something entirely new.
In fact, it's quite old, but I've never truly discovered it before.

It's the lyrics to the Christmas carol, O Holy Night.

I've never actually been one for Christmas carols, but this year....this year was different. Now don't get me wrong, I love music in general and especially Christmas music, but I've never gotten into actually singing the old carols. Too often do I think we sing without hearing what it is that we're singing. It happens to me all the time. This year, however, I finally "heard" these lyrics and have been forever changed through them:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth. That phrase has been constantly ringing in my ears the past few days. I can't help but wonder at the words...til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth...

I don't know, maybe its because I wasn't able to spend Christmas this year back home with my family, but this season, I've really been in a contemplative mood. This carol has especially stricken me at the heart and made me feel so incredibly loved...who am I that the God in heaven would see me as so valuable and worthy that He would send His only son to the earth for me? For me?

I had known before that the Lord loved me enough to send his son to be born and to die for me, but I've never quite seen it this way before. 'Til He appear'd and my soul felt its worth...

Do you feel it?