Advent and the 'French Horn Song'

By Moses Sanchez

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This is a guest post from my amazing husband, Moses. I hope you are as encouraged as I was by his reflections on the true purpose of Christmas. 

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“Papa,” my four-year-old Jeremiah interrupts as he hops into his bed, “we can’t go to bed yet, we haven’t done Advent and listened to the ‘French Horn song’.” Exhausted from a day's work, I was hoping to get by tonight without doing our typical family routine during the few weeks leading up to Christmas. However, Jeremiah has already associated this time of year with the hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”, otherwise known as the French Horn song in my household.

Jeremiah’s persistence eventually wears me down and I march all the little kiddos back out to the living room.  We turn every light off, except for the Christmas lights that bring a variety of colors into our home.  We turn the music on and then fun and laughter fill our tiny abode. Jeremiah, along with his two-year-old sister, Eliana, jump off the couch to the floor and bust out their best dance moves.  Even our third child, fifteen-month-old Phillip joins in the fun.  He looks more like a bobble head doll standing in one place and bouncing up and down.  Marilette and I laugh, sing, and reflect on the words pouring out of the speakers:

“Come, Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set thy people free;

From our tears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in thee.”

Just a minute earlier, I was seeking rest in the comfort of my bed, but somehow, I found my spirit rejuvenated from the song.  It’s a song that we have listened to for the last four years around this time of year. It not only brings rejuvenation, but it brings perspective on the bigger purpose of the holiday season we find ourselves in. To paraphrase a saying I once heard, this season is more about the presence we’ve received, rather than the presents we received.  

Over two thousands years ago, the God-man Jesus Christ took on the form of a babe and was born in a stable.  He made himself of no reputation and was born in humble conditions for a greater purpose. “Though he was rich,” the Bible says,  “yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” As we spend time with family this holiday season, let’s continue to keep perspective of this truth which can easily get buried by other priorities.  I leave you with another verse from our kids’ favorite Christmas hymn:

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

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