With just a few days to go until Christmas, many people ask if we still really understand the meaning of Christmas. And with reason. However, apart from struggling to recall the Christian sense behind Christmas, most people struggle on a much larger scale to see or care about what is happening to vulnerable children.
The combination of Christmas coming up and the work that I do regularly points my mind towards a song that has always had a great significance to me. I would like to share it with you here.
The song is in Dutch, written by Jules de Corte, an amazing singer/songwriter. He called it ‘Kerstliedje’ or ‘Christmas Song’, giving the whole thing an extra sting. Here is an English translation of his lyrics:
A child was born this night
in what stable I know not
no choirs of angels sang there
nor did a shepherd’s song sound
no wondrous light shining in the dark.
The father was far from pious
the mother certainly no virgin
he did not come here for us
no man asked for his coming
he may have to die of hunger.
In all the world no three wise men
searching for him from afar
not a single star shall rise
at least not in his honour
he will not receive gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Never shall he speak in the temple
with priests high and knowledgeable of God
never shall he perform a wonder
do not think he will do anything
that will make Bartholomew shout at him.
A child was born this night
In whom no one sees any good
he shall not disturb the peace
and certainly not the war
so no danger to our silver pieces.
What does it mean when you show outrage at the way Mary and the baby Jesus were treated, but have no problem throwing a pregnant Maria from Honduras in a jail cell or a put a toddler Jesus from El Salvador in a cage? What does it mean when you call yourself pro-life and do everything to protect a baby until the moment of birth, but are unwilling to do anything to provide the mother and child with affordable healthcare and community support from the moment the baby comes out or you condemn an unwed mother to the point where she feels forced to abandon her child?
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, let’s try to take a moment to think about this. To realise that what we are talking about are not just numbers or just interesting psychological cases or just those fallen through the cracks of the failures of government. What we are talking about are CHILDREN.
Please share this post, to help make more people aware.