Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I love the magic that surrounds it, the fun of Santa bringing gifts, presents, Christmas decorations, baking and eating delicious food, and especially the reminder of Jesus Christ’s birth. I’ve always enjoyed the nativity story.
One of my family traditions, which is shared by many people, is acting out the nativity. I don’t know where it came from but my mom has a Christmas book full of Christmas stories and one of them is a script for the nativity. There’s a bit of narration, scriptures, and songs. My mom also has a fantastic dress up box and growing up we all loved choosing costumes to play our part in the nativity skit.
One of the songs in this skit is “Far Far Away on Judea’s Plains.” I have always loved this song and connected with it. Of all the characters in the nativity story, I’ve always connected with the shepherds the most. Growing up with animals, I’ve learned that you have to take care of them. Especially sheep. They are completely dependent on you to provide feed for them, water them, and make sure they don’t get hurt or wander off where it isn’t safe. So for the shepherds to leave their flocks in the field to go and see their Savior in his infancy always seemed to me that it required a great amount of faith. These simple, humble shepherds had faith to leave their flocks to go see Jesus and bear witness of his birth.
Far, far away on Judea’s plains,
Shepherds of old heard the joyous strains:Glory to God,
Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men!Sweet are these strains of redeeming love,
Message of mercy from heav’n above:Glory to God,
Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men!Lord, with the angels we too would rejoice;
Help us to sing with the heart and voice:Glory to God,
Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men!Hasten the time when, from ev’ry clime,
Men shall unite in the strains sublime:Glory to God,
Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men!Text and music: John Menzies Macfarlane, 1833–1892
Something else I love about this song is that it was written in Saint George, Utah, which is a community very close to our home. Colton, Sophie and I all have ancestors that were some of the first settlers in Saint George and were probably present for the debut of this hymn. I love the message of this song, and the fact that it was written in Southern Utah makes it even more special for me.
As we spend the end of 2018 celebrating with family and friends over Christmas and the new year, may we stay simple and humble like the shepherds of old and hear the glorious strains, and remember the redeeming love that Christ has for all of us.
Merry Christmas everyone,
Tami
