Every day ’til Christmas, we’re sharing a story from your family at FN. Would you rather get them straight to your inbox? Click here and choose “The Songs of Christmas: (Daily Emails Dec 2015).”
New Kid In Town
Write about your favorite song that means something to you…one song, really? As Clint Black sang, “Ain’t it funny how a melody brings back a memory!” So here goes!
The thing I love about Christmas is the songs and the joy they bring. I remember as a child my dad putting my sister on top of the piano and singing, Here Comes Suzy Snowflake or All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. I smile when I think about it. My extended family would also get together to sing around the piano. There seemed to be so much love.
As I grew older, I realized everything is not always as it seems and pretty much my family was just as screwed up as everyone else’s. A Christmas song was even written about it, Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keene. It describes real families almost perfectly. Take a listen sometime. You’ll smile. I always do.
But a song that really always hits home with me is, New Kid in Town by Alan Jackson and Keith Whitley. It is a conversation between the Magi and a man who lives in Bethlehem.
We’re looking for a King, the new Messiah.
We’re following a star, shining brighter.
Old man won’t you help us if you can?
He shook his head, but pointed his hand.
There’s a new kid in town, and he’s lying in a manger down the road.
There’s a new kid in town, but he’s just another baby I suppose, Heaven knows.
There’s a new kid in town, here in Bethlehem.
It reminds me that not everyone caught on that our Savior was born that night in Bethlehem, even when they lived right there. Heck, I even missed it for a lot of years and I was raised around church. It also reminds me that those of us who understand that without the birth of Jesus we are screwed, and it is up to us to tell others of the great gift we have through Jesus. We don’t have to be wise. We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to show up and love people in all their screwed up mess (and ours too)! There’s a new kid in town and he was born in the lowliest of places and grew up to die for each one of us. All because He loved us! So go love someone you normally wouldn’t.
Today’s story is by Chris Shelton, and here’s a link to one of his favorite Christmas songs.
Chris Shelton (aka Bucket) is a banker who loves to play guitar. He’s married to Melany, and they have 2 daughters. Most Sundays he’s helping lead worship somewhere in the building – either in the auditorium with the adults, or elsewhere with students.