"The Gift"

24 December 2019:

[Catch-up post...]

"Now the Christmas Eve service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light.
And all of the town folks brought presents
To lay by the manger that night.

There were diamonds and incense
And perfumes in packages fit for a king.
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
Maria had nothing to bring.

She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in.
And crying she knelt by the manger,
For her gift was unworthy of Him.

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness,
'Maria, what brings you to me?
If the bird in the cage is your offering,
Open the door and let me see.'

Though she trembled, she did as He asked her,
And out of the cage the bird flew,
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new.

Just then the midnight bells rang out
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture,
Whose beauty was fit for a king..." --Garth Brooks, "The Gift"

If you are driving up I-81 on Christmas Eve and happen to pass me, there's a chance you'll see me crying real tears listening to this song. I think I only listen to it once or twice a year, but always somewhere in Pennsylvania, somewhere along I-81. It gets me every time. So simple, beautiful, and moving.

(Not going to embed a link to a youtube version as Garth has zero official presence on youtube and apparently his people yank down clips really quickly. Not very Christmas-y, dude!)