Like many, music has always affected me deeply. Some of my happiest childhood memories are of dancing in the middle of the living room to the sounds of my mother playing on the old upright piano. I’m not sure how often this happened — but at least enough for me to remember the feeling of joy as I spun and twirled happily — safe and secure with my Mommy close at hand, light and free.

 

It strikes me that I’d love to dance with such abandon again this Christmas season — after all, the third Sunday of Advent, we light the joy candle, we sing Joy to the World, and the word is emblazoned on everything from ornaments to stockings. This is the season of joy, isn’t it? But somehow when you become an adult, the responsibilities, the realities, the griefs and the questions keep our feet firmly on the floor. 

 

I know that I need help in recapturing the feeling of my heavenly parent come close at hand that night in Bethlehem long ago, and perhaps some music might just be the emotional push I need to lay down the heavy burdens that keep me from dancing.  Here are a few songs for the season that might just help me dance — and you might enjoy them as well. Stream them from your favorite music service or listen on YouTube via the links below.

 

All for me, all for you. This song has so many thought-provoking lines including just how much sacrifice the act of Christ’s birth involved and that I, you and every precious human life was worth it. Jesus has come to “romance a world torn apart.” God is truly a God like none other. May we joyfully respond.

 

Ellie Holcomb has become a favorite at our house. We like it because of the shared first name with my daughter but also for the ways Holcomb’s music appeals to both child and mother alike. This song makes me think of river dancers or some kind of very active dance of joy as well as the joyful end to the anticipation, waiting and longing of the Christmas season.

 

This one also makes me think (as I sing along). It reminds me of the ways I need to continually reorient myself toward God  (“We’re less than half as close as I want to be”) and that Christ continues to meet me where I am, calling me to live more lovingly, more faithfully (“That You have come to meet me here”). God is a God of second … and third … and fourth chances! Now, I might dither with the theology of the line “you were born to die,” but I can wholeheartedly proclaim, “so that I could one day pray for You to save my life,” as Jesus heals what is broken from sin in my life day after day, as well as forever.

 

I’m not sure I’ll ever hear this song now without thinking “C-B-C-A.” My seven-year-old has recently become enamored with this song (she learned in school it was originally composed in the Ukraine, which is a good reminder for us to pray for peace when we hear it) and has started learning to play it from a piano book well beyond her current lesson book. May we all look for songs that ring joyfully in our hearts.

 

I’ll end with my favorite artist. I’ve loved Heller music since I was in high school and am delighted that she is still releasing new music including a new Christmas album this year! I could probably list all her music (from both Christmas albums), but I’ll limit it to this one.  The chorus of this one particularly speaks to me. “God with us/Close enough/For our eyes to see/And our hands to touch/Hope for all/Great and small/God with us/God with all of us.” Our God of hope is near enough to encounter with all our senses.

 

So what would it take for you to dance? What music might impact your mood this Advent/Christmas season? How might you express the joy that Christ has come and continues to come every day to offer healing and hope to our broken lives and world? This truly is the Good News of Christmas.