Christmas Day 2020
About a week ago on Dec 19, we were having our usual prayer time with Rene in prayers and followed by a short study about Noami and Leah. I was feeling a bit sluggish until Matthew was asked to do the day’s reading. We usually use this old Daily Bread 2015 edition that Aya gave us many years ago.
The title for the day was “Seventh Stanza.” What strikes me most was the writer, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. His name brought me back to my sixth grade class (50+ years ago), the first 2 sentences stuck to my mind forever, “I shot an arrow into the air. It fell to earth I knew not where.” The message of the poem, the perfect rhyme, each word and paragraph delivers.
The next morning, with the poem still ringing in my brain as I awoke, I googled and read the poem a few times. I can almost feel his pain, his sorrows drowning him, and then on the “seventh stanza”, it just delivers the most positive message. In the midst of all the atrocities, Longfellow found a way to get through life.
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does He sleep.
The wrong shall fail,
The right prevail,
With peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
Listen to the 2 minutes Daily Bread of December 19 featuring Longfellow’s “Seventh Stanza”
And so, I wrote a version that I can add a bit of encouragement to myself and my family, and perhaps whoever may have a chance to read this. This was one of the easiest writing I had in years. Everything just flows in effortlessly, and I was done in less than 60 minutes. So here we go…
I heard the bells on Christmas day,
Familiar carols the radio played
Joyful and sweet, the melody they sang
The strings of the band that softly rang
Let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
I hear the sick, the suffering and the dead,
Oh more than a few, without a bed.
Jingle jangle, the tambourine man
Singing sweet hymns, the best he can
Let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
I feel the hatred, the ugly bitterness
A nation divided, faith put to test
Still some homes beacon candlelight
And old radio plays the SIlent Night,
Let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
I see broken homes and families torn
Mysterious covid of great unknown
Doctors, nurses, drivers, grocers too
Fighting the battle for me and you,
Let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
I listen to the cries of the dying and the cold
Across the earth, the young and the old.
Under the sun, are colors black and white,
Red and yellow, are precious in His sight.
Let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
And finally here, this day did come,
The drummer boy, ra pam-pa-pam-pam.
For the Lord is alive, and He never sleeps
In the book of life, your name He keeps
Let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
I heard the bells on Christmas day,
Familiar carols the radio played
Joyful and sweet, the melody they sang
The strings of the band that softly rang
So Let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to me.
Yes, let there be — Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
I reached out to my UK based English singer friend, Elliot Sheridan, and have the song recorded. Elliot live with his Mother in West Yorkshire, England. He also performed on some of our songs, The Ballad of John and Jane, Life is a Circle, The Grass is Greener on the Other Side, and My Only Possession.
Virtual Family Reunion
On Dec-24, 9 pm Los Angeles, we had a good Webex Virtual family gathering organized by our dear Wishing to celerate Windell’s birthday and to Celebrate Christmas. Unlike any other Christmas gatherings, which we almost NEVER missed getting together, this gathering is a strictly No Food, No Drinks, No touch, No hugs. Yet, it delivers wonderful results. I wish Papa and Mama were here to celebrate this virtual Christmas, but we know for sure, they are enjoying their Christmas celebration with Jesus on Christmas eve.
Aya 504, delivered a very timely and sound advise for the family, “At age 20, before 30, find a good job — and most importantly is a good boss, one you can learn from. At age, 40 and before 60, do what you learn and love what you do. By age 60, enjoy life, travel far, take care of your grandchildren.”
Our siobe Wyna, reminded everyone, that “Covid is real, the hospitals are all filled up, and sick people are really in line at the hospitals. Do not get sick, wear your masks, social distance”
Chiak-Chiak, also announce a good news, that Ibin just got her pfizer vaccine.
Wishing will set up another family gathering for the next birthday batch, Sally, Ton Ton and Bing Bing for a Happy New Year. Hopefully this time we will have Ibin and Bay with the family.