Enough for Him

 

How is it Friday already?  Come to think of it, how is it the Friday before Christmas already?  Somehow it always surprises me how it all sneaks up on me, even with my intentional choices to slow down and be fully present in the moment throughout Advent. 

Truth is, I have felt the benefits this year.  Everything that should have been done by now has been done.  I'm content and quiet in my spirit, feeling a healthy mixture of joy and sorrow, as the season seems to prompt.  I've had the space to journey with some who are experiencing the darkness life can bring, while holding my own light and gratitude for the deep blessings Christmas 2025 has folded me into.

And now.  It's Friday.  The Friday before Christmas.  And so begins a string of 6 days running with something 'significant' happening every day.  Then one day with nothing.  Then our big family sit-down dinner for ten that we will attempt to have here, in our little house, for the first time.  (More on this later, as I'm sure there will be blog-worthy learnings from this crazy experiment.)

And I signed up for it.  And I've planned for it.  And I have lists for it.  And I love it.  And I'm looking forward to being present in every busy moment of it, pacing myself out so I can still sneak in that afternoon 'just putting my feet up for an hour' thing, and getting to bed at a decent time, or just listening to an old Christmas carol and letting it move me in new ways.  You know, so I can stay content and grateful, and bring that open self into the lovely people spaces of my life.  

And speaking of old Christmas carols...

One I truly love, both in melody and lyric was written by a well-published poet of the times named Christina Georgina Rossetti in the late 1800s.  "In the Bleak Midwinter." Its tune is gentle its words simple, both reflecting the stillness of spirit this season calls us to snuggled down into.

The phrase that caught my heart's attention last night as I was listening was "Enough for Him whom cherubim worship night and day, a breasfful of milk and a mangerful of hay."  Yes...I'm reflecting again on the humility of it.

If you know it, likely you'll hear the tune as you read the verses here.

And with this I wish you a Friday-before-Christmas full of whatever you need it to be.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim worship night and day.

A breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay.

Enough for Him, whom angels fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

cherubim and seraphim thronged the air,

but only His mother, in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the Beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, as poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man I would do my part.

Yet what I can I give Him.

Give my heart.