The Seventh Day of Advent...

        The carol I'm sharing today is probably familiar to most of you and I know I've shared it multiple times, but I'm sharing it again because I just love it. Once again, this establishes my claim that German carols are some of the best there are. 

         I'm going to go ahead and share the German and English lyrics side by side because, once again, the original meaning kind of got lost in the more poetic translations.

1. Still, still, still, weil’s Kindlein schlafen will! Maria tut es nieder singen, ihre keusche Brust darbringen, Still, still, still, weil’s Kindlein schlafen will!	1. Hush, hush, hush, for the little child wants wants to sleep! Maria sings to him, offers him her chaste breast. Hush, hush, hush, for the little child wants to sleep.
2. Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf, mein liebes Kind schlaf! Die Engel tun schon musizieren, bei dem Kindlein jubilieren. Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf, mein liebes Kind schlaf!	2. Sleep, sleep, sleep, my dear child sleep! The angels are making beautiful music, celebrating the little child Sleep, sleep, sleep, my dear child sleep.
3. Groß, groß, groß, die Lieb’ ist übergroß! Gott hat den Himmelsthron verlassen, und muss reisen auf der Strassen. Groß, groß, groß, die Lieb’ ist übergroß.	3. Great, great, great, the love is enormous! God has left his heavenly throne and must travel on the road. Great, great, great, the love is enormous!
4. Wir, wir, wir, tun rufen all zu Dir: Tu uns des Himmels Reich aufzuschließen, wenn wir einmal sterben müssen. Wir, wir, wir, tun rufen all zu Dir.	4.We, we, we, are all calling to Thee: Open up the heavenly realm to us, when we once must die. We, we, we, are all calling out to Thee.

          Isn't it beautiful? I love the third verse. God's love is, indeed, enormous, beyond all bounds to have done such a thing. To die for our sin, to come down and take on the mantle of human flesh. It does call for stillness and quiet. A time for contemplation and reflection. Is your Christmas season feeling hectic? Take a moment to stop and remember what it's all about. Take a moment to recall the greatness of God's love such great sinners as we are. Let us all call out to Him this Christmastide.

        This video isn't the greatest in terms of lyrics, and, honestly, this should be sung in German, but I think this captures the proper feel of the carol, and you can sing along with the words above.

             

             If you forget everything else this season, join John Newton in remembering two things, that you are a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour. That will carry you through most everything.

                      Until tomorrow,

                            ~ Christianna