Silent Night

December 9, 2023
Devotional by: Ann Leighton Jackson

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

As you can imagine, our house is anything but calm or silent. There is lots of noise and chaos, but the busyness of life with four young children also brings lots of joy. Our children’s excitement steadily builds with all the Christmas activities and traditions in December. Decorating the Christmas tree, adding to our advent calendar, Christmas caroling, and seeing Santa are just a few activities they look forward to. Our children’s anticipation reminds me of the season of Advent. Advent calls us to wait with hopeful hearts. In the waiting, we learn to surrender our impatience and embrace the grace of God’s plan unfolding.

 The hymn “Silent Night” is one that I always sang to our newborn children when they awakened in the middle of the night. I would sing the first verse over and over, hoping they would quickly fall back to sleep. If you know my singing abilities, you know my lullaby didn’t always work. As I sang that first verse, I would have a sense of peace, knowing my baby would eventually sleep again. I was also reminded of the overwhelming love Mary must have felt for her newborn child. I bet that night in Bethlehem was far from calm or quiet. I’d like to believe that on the night of our Savior’s birth, there was immense joy and excitement that brought noise and maybe a little chaos, too.

This Advent season, let us welcome the meaning of “Silent Night” in our lives. May we find solace in the quiet moments (even if they are far and few between), seeking God’s presence and sharing his love with others. Let us remember that waiting is also a gift, as it lets us trust in God’s plan. May the hymn “Silent Night” remind us of the boundless love of a mother, the miraculous birth of our Savior, and the everlasting peace that dwells within us all.