Joy to the World!

December 25, 2023
Devotional written by: Christie Jones

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing!

Joy to the World was written in 1729 by Isaac Watts and its lyrics are a Christian interpretation of Psalm 98. But for me, this song brings back memories of childhood Christmases in a small house in Macon, Georgia. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the house most decorated for Christmas in Macon was across the street from my childhood home. Mr. Murray spent months preparing for his Christmas display of lights, decorating every inch of his house and yard. When the Christmas season officially began (after Thanksgiving back then), he would put on his Santa suit and greet the hundreds of cars full of children passing by to see his light display and get a candy cane from Santa himself. As it got closer to Christmas, the lines of cars got longer, groups of carolers came to sing, and the neighborhood was full of Christmas joy.

When any of our friends came by to see Mr. Murray’s house, they’d also stop by ourhouse. My mom made sure to have all of her homemade Christmas candies to share with them, welcoming friends into our home, and spreading her own special Christmas joy.

As an adult, I look back on this time and wonder why my parents didn’t lose their
patience when it could take an hour to get down our street on Christmas Eve. My memories don’t include any negative feelings at all – just the excitement and wonder of children from all over Macon experiencing joy on Matheson Drive.

During this season of Advent, I want to focus on being joyful, even when lines are longand my patience is spent.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!- Philippians 4:4