It’s Christmas time and leading up to Christmas, Christmas songs abound. You hear them on the radio and television, in shopping malls and stores, as you’re wandering the grocery aisles or waiting to get your car serviced. They flow from concert halls, school auditoriums and church sanctuaries.

Listen to the episode below, or continue on to read the transcript.

Episode Transcript:

As a favourite holiday song reminds us, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And sound a lot like it, too—everywhere you go. For weeks leading up to December 25, Christmas songs abound. You hear them on the radio and television, in shopping malls and stores, as you’re wandering the grocery aisles or waiting to get your car serviced. They flow from concert halls, school auditoriums and church sanctuaries.

The better part of Christmas is, of course, the reason for Christmas. At Church or at home, it is the familiar and beloved Christmas Carols that express so simply and eloquently the true meaning of Christmas. No matter how often we sing them during the days of Christmas, the Carols never fail to inspire. Songs of faith for people of faith, they offer the most blessed mood of the season.

A Christmas carol is a song or hymn whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, and which is traditionally sung on Christmas itself or during the surrounding holiday season. The word carol is a medieval word of French and Anglo-Norman origin believed to mean a dance song or a circle dance accompanied by singing. Broadly defined, carols express religious joy and are often associated with the Christmas season. Christmas Carols unite the whole world during the festival of Christmas.

Over the centuries, thousands of carols, hymns, anthems, ballads and even novelty songs have been written about Christmas and everything associated with it. One such song is Christmas Everyday, written by Peter McCann and sung by Kenny Rogers. The lyrics tell a beautiful story. They really say it all about the true meaning of Christmas and the way in which we should think about it. I invite you to listen carefully, allowing the words to touch your heart.

He was born so far away                              So the story’s told
We remember Christmas day                      When winter days grow cold
With the time it passes by                          We put away the trim
Then we live and wonder why                       We can’t remember Him

The Christmas star shines once a year       And then it fades away
Keep the spirit in your heart                       It’s Christmas everyday

It’s not the bells and it’s not the snow     And it’s not the gifts we get
But He was born so long ago                        It’s easy to forget
Peace on earth, goodwill to men                  But men can’t go alone
We get lost along the way                            But He can bring us home

Remember Him throughout the year          Without the star above
He left us all a Christmas gift                     He left the gift of love
The Christmas star shines once a year       And then it fades away
Keep the spirit in your heart                       And it’s Christmas everyday

As we now move into the serious countdown to Christmas, let us endeavour to share with our family, and friends, the true meaning of Christmas and to encourage them to carry the spirit of Christmas in their hearts every day, all year round.

Look for the silver lining.

This is Terry Lees

[Music: Christmas Everyday – Kenny Rogers]