A CHRISTMAS GIFT | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2020

Author: Tania Rose Josun

Intro: Tania Rose remembers the uplifting power of a carol which turned a bleak Christmas in her life into a blessing

The Christmas of 2019 will definitely stand out. Due to my physical circumstance – a severely prolapsed disc which left me unable to stand, sit or walk and on bed rest for several months – I was unable to attend Holy Mass on Christmas Day for the first time in my life.

As Christmas drew near, carols filled our home, especially at night, when the peaceful piano instrumentals would hush us to sleep. During the day, I would play all the songs but somehow something was missing; my heart was still searching for that one carol – that one meaningful, heartfelt carol.

On Christmas Eve, after my family went for midnight Mass, I lay in bed, prayed for a while and then found myself thinking of all the Christmases in my life so far. I could not remember some of them, but many of them were still fresh in my mind, the memories of which suddenly made me cry. It was a while before the flood behind my eyes subsided. When it did, I looked for and played some of the old carols of my childhood. While doing so, I stumbled upon a treasure. And I don’t think that any other carol can outdo this in portraying the true meaning of Christmas.

Through the mesmerising voice of Susan Boyle, I was introduced to Christina Rossetti's ‘In the Bleak Mid-winter’. I have lost count of the number of times that this rendition was played last Christmas season. But each time, it tugged at my heartstrings and took me by the hand to baby Jesus in that manger in Bethlehem. And then, by a smile of coincidence, Christina Rossetti also happened to be one of my favourite poets. Now wasn't that a wonderful Christmas gift ‘in the bleak mid-winter!’

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan;

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him

Nor earth sustain,

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty —

Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom Cherubim

Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk

And a manger full of hay;

Enough for Him, whom Angels

Fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel

Which adore.

Angels and Archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air;

But only His Mother

In her maiden bliss

Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a Shepherd

I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give Him,

Give my hear