That is the sum of my Christmas wishes and prayers for 2018 and the forthcoming New Year. At the top of my list is praying for peace … Peace in the world … Peace in your heart and the hearts of your fellow men and women that populate this place called earth!
While it is not actually a hymn or Christmas song, as it was written by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller back in 1955 to be sung by a children’s chorus at a festival in Long Beach, California, the words of this song communicate the message of peace better than any others I’ve ever read:
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
It’s a wonderful thought and belief, but if you are like me, there are times when living it comes a lot harder than simply espousing the thought. How about with you? Reviewing world history of the past 60 years … we’re not doing very well, are we?
This Musings came about out of my desire to share with you three pieces of music.
The first was performed on Bing Crosby’s 1977Christmas TV special, recorded in London just months before he died. In this performance of “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy,” the newly-written lyrics were sung as an overlay of the familiar holiday tune by Bing’s guest, acclaimed English singer, songwriter and actor, David Bowie … please listen:
A favorite of mine since it was released in 1965,just two years after I programmed my first “Christmas Festival of Music” in Philadelphia, adds the second word to our heading … LOVE! This is a tune that’s rarely heard and not familiar to many unless they’ve listened to my holiday seasonal radio programming over the years … sung by the ever-popular Ray Conniff Singers, it’s “The Real Meaning of Christmas.”
As the first line clearly communicates: “The real meaning of Christmas is the giving of love every day!” Where can a kind word, a helping hand or even a small financial gift make a difference in someone’s life, whatever the day of the year may be?
Another Christmas melody that’s never been widely heard was written and recorded 30 years ago by my dear wife Alicia, inspired by a true experience she had at a family Christmas party at our church in Tenafly, New Jersey. At some point during the event, the wife of friends walked over and handed Alicia their newborn, which was just weeks’ old. I invite you to listen to “Through the Tiny One’s Eyes,” sung by Alicia as accompanied by members of the string section of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, tells the story of that experience!.
I felt such peace and joy go through me
from the tiny one’s eyes
he touched me with his baby hand
his skyward glance did I see
In closing, let me leave you with this thought from well-known writer and pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City for more than 50 years, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale:
“I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.”
Thank you for reading and allowing me to share in your holiday season experiences and memories.
I do hope you’ll check back here next week and see what I’m led to share with you and your fellow readers — at the moment, I’m thinking it’ll be a random collection of photos. Or, why not sign up below to receive an automatic notification of the new Musings and a synopsis of what the subject matter is? Thanks.
P. S. – If you’d like to read more about the songs of Christmas and their popularity, follow this link to a Musings from a year ago: https://marlintaylor.com/site/radio/silent-night-chestnuts-roasting-open-fire
