The "Sigh" of Silent Night

Joseph Mohr was desperate. The church organ in the little village of Oberdorf was broken, and the young priest needed a carol for the Christmas Eve service. He had lyrics for a poem he'd written, but had no music for it. Choir Director Franz Gruber stepped in, taking Mohr's lyrics and within mere hours, composed music for the beloved hymn we know today as Silent Night. On that quiet, winter's eve, the melody of Stille Nacht rang out on guitar in the little village church. Imagine Mohr's sigh of relief as the worship service was salvaged. Ah, the "sigh" of  Silent Night!

Mary and Joseph were desperate, too. Travel by donkey would have been a long, arduous journey for  very pregnant Mary. With no place to stay in Bethlehem, imagine the sigh of relief that may have come from their lips as they reached the lowly stable where Mary would give birth to the Christ child.  Ah, the "sigh" of that silent night!

Sometimes Christmas makes us feel desperate--or at least overwhelmed. We may sigh (more out of frustration than relief) at the commercialization, the lines, the traffic, and the seemingly never-ending to-do list. We fret over preparations and expectations. And we may feel sad or lonely as we think of Christmas' past and those who are no longer with us. 

Despite our frustration, when Christmas comes, we likely let out a sigh of relief that the day has finally arrived. We may also sigh as we marvel the Christ child coming to us to bring salvation and the miracle of His birth on that Stille Nacht that took place over two-thousand years ago.  

The sigh of Silent Night--what a beautiful sound it is!   
                                                                                    ><>><>><>
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). -  Matthew 1:23   

Adapted from my blog of December 2019.  
[Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com]

    

---