Notes From Kay

Christmas has come and gone again.  I always hate to see it go, because I love Christmas music.  But I always use this time to reflect on past Christmases.

I'm reminded of two incidents that happened many years ago.  On a Wednesday night about 30 children and adults loaded into the church van to go caroling at a local nursing home.

It was late, so we caroled down the halls.  When we got to the last hall, a funny thing happened.  We were singing "Silent Night" and at the end of every phrase, a strong baritone voice echoed the music.  We were fascinated to hear such a beautiful voice echoing our phrases.  We continued down the hall until we came to the last room.  There in the far bed was an old frail man who could no longer get out of bed.  When we finished singing the song his sweet voice enchoed the final phrase.  As we wished him "Merry Christmas" there were tears in his eyes and in ours.  In the midst of his frailty and despair, Christmas once again brought hope to his longing heart.

Another time, I played carols for about an hour at a nursing home Christmas Eve party.  A little old lady with a pink housecoat and fuzzy slippers came up behind me and sang every word of the carols.  After we finished, one of the workers asked me if I knew who the lady was.  I said, "no."  The worker said, "she doesn't know who she is either; she has Altzheimer's."   Though the little lady had forgotten so much of her life, she remembered the Christmas carols.  The power of music transcended even her dementia.

May the babe in the manger bring you hope - and may we always remember the power of music to bring comfort.  What a joy it is to share the gift of music with our students.  And what better reason to make music than remembering the Christ of Bethlehem.

I hope you had a great Christmas - and may Jesus be in your midst throughout the next year.

Miss Kay