The Unanticipated Gift

I've been so busy making and purchasing gifts for Christmas that I haven't had much time to devote to my blog, but that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about it. I've been trying to think what meaningful message I could give you for Christmas this year. America and other nations around the world are suffering from a national and international economic recession. Many people have been affected, either losing homes, jobs, or both. This Christmas is a hard one for most people.
Then I heard the song, "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rossetti, and I thought it summed up everything I needed to say.

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But His mother only
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

Words: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), 1872; appeared posthumously in
The Poetical Works of Christina Georgina Rossetti, Poem #426, 1904.
Music: "Cranham," Gustav Theodore Holst, 1906
Source: "The English Hymnal," p. 44, 1916

Have a merry Christmas everyone, and remember the great gift we were given on the first Christmas day!