My favorite Christmas song has long been “O Holy Night.” Something about the lyrics and the music touch my soul on a deep level, often stirring my heart and bringing tears to my eyes.
The song begins with these lyrics:
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth,
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
This week, I attended a funeral service for a dear woman in our community. Fannie Grace was a woman of noble character, profound faith and a beautifully encouraging spirit. She had a servant’s heart and left behind a legacy not only in her family’s lives, but for all who crossed her path. She was, and is, an inspiration. I was only on the fringe of her circle, but even from my proximity, I knew what an incredible woman she was and am thankful to have known her.
After her service, I thought about that phrase in O Holy Night, “…the soul felt its worth.” Fannie Grace was a woman who felt the worth of her soul and lived each day of her life sharing that value with those around her. She felt the worth of every soul she met and she did her best to share the love of God with them, whether it was by anonymously leaving a meal for a neighbor, praying with a nurse, or whatever other way she could think of to encourage someone.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
Our lives have a bigger purpose than just working at a job, accumulating and spending wealth, or pursuing the next thing that gives us a moment’s pleasure. We stumble in the darkness of sin until the light helps us to see the way. Until Jesus becomes real to us, our soul cannot feel its true worth.
When Jesus becomes real to us, we want to obey his request to love God and love one another. When we do that well, our soul can feel its worth and it is good. This is when those around us can see the light of God in us, as Fannie Grace demonstrated so beautifully.
This is the season we celebrate Jesus’ birth, yes, but may it also be the beginning of a life-long season of pursuing him intentionally to know him better.
Our soul is worthy of this pursuit.
Lord, we thank you for sending your son to this world to appear to us and for us. Help us feel the worthiness of our soul and choose to live our life in a way that glorifies you and honors the souls around us. Amen.
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