Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Make a joyful noise unto the  Lord , all ye lands. Serve the  Lord  with gladness: come  before his presence with singing. Know ye that the  Lord  he is God: it is  he  that hath made us, and not we  ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the  Lord  is good; his mercy is  everlasting; and his truth endureth to  all generations. Psalm 100

My beloved spake, and said unto me,  Rise up, my love, my fair one, and  come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is  over and gone;  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of  birds is come, and the voice of the  turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green  figs,  and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my  love, my fair one, and come away. ~Song of Solomon 2:10-13

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; ~Song of Solomon 2:12

The Lord your God is with you. . .       He will take great delight in you,           He will quiet you with His love,                  He will rejoice over you with singing.   ~Zephaniah 3:17

She sings. In the cold, with crowds passing, most ignoring, she keeps singing. Singing of a manger, of a star, of a promise, of prophecy fulfilled, of love divine, of holiness. You see them everywhere during the Christmas season. Salvation Army bell ringers, who stand in the cold, ringing to draw attention to their big red kettles, the kettles that holds dreams of gifts, food, and shelter for some. Bell ringers are paid minimum wage for standing several hours per shift, ringing their bells. Among them are the retired, the unemployed, those who are able to prepare Christmas dinner with their wages. Some stand silently, eyes glazed to the turmoil around them. Some, obviously bored, yawn and pace back and forth. Some greet shoppers as they pass. But this one sings. Standing in front of a huge warehouse store, red apron atop the layers of bulky clothing, she sweetly sings to all who pass. She may never sing in a choir or catch the ears of a music producer, but she's okay with that. She...