As Christmas approaches and radios & ipods & stores & neighbors are full of Christmas songs, I want to issue a challenge. Really listen to the words of the ever-so-familiar Christmas carols this year. Something about the lyrics have struck a cord with me this year. Here are some of my favorites…

“Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Son of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.”

“Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”

And of course….

“You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch,
You’re a nasty wasty skunk,
Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch,
The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote,
“Stink, stank, stunk”!”

(couldn’t help that last one.)