Signs and Songs

 Yesterday-nothing, nada, zip.  So we get to catch up today.  

We left our shepherds hearing their heavenly messenger tell them to "fear not" and that he had brought them, and all people, good tidings of  great joy because of a Saviour born that day in Bethlehem.  

He then told them of a sign (when he wasn't wearing his sign...).  They would find this Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger.  Then the heavens opened above these poor, blessed shepherds and angelic singing broke out praising God and telling of peace on earth and of goodwill to us.

Good enough?  We are now caught up and you can all go to bed. Goodnight!

Um, would you mind wait just a few more minutes whilst I pontificate a bit?  Thank you!

I have tried to imagine this scene from both sides.  The shepherds with their frightening/glorious angelic visitation followed by a singing heavenly multitude.  Imagine TCATS (Tab Choir At Temple Square), only multitudes more. We are happy when we can get tickets to the Christmas Concert at the Conference Center.  Then we are usually up on the upper deck on the side.  Imagine being front and center for this celestial performance in the field!  

And the angels singing!  I imagine them waiting millennia for their/our Savior to come to Earth to fulfill His mission here.  I'm sure they were aware of the absolute necessity for a Savior for themselves and for all of us, and of the life He would lead, and the cost of it all.  Songs of praise and Hallelujah were indeed in order.  They still are. Today we had a sister in our ward sing with her sisters in sacrament meeting.  It was wonderful.  They were probably part of the Shepherds' Field Symphony.  I have wondered if I might of also been singing.  Nope.  Not with my voice.  Maybe I was keeping an eye on the sheep to make sure they didn't scatter while the shepherds' attention was so deservedly  distracted.  We do what we can, right?

So the heavenly messenger and the singing cherubs played their parts, as will the shepherds tomorrow.  They did what they could.

This message about Peace and Goodwill toward all of us.  How have we been doing?  Have each of us been doing what we can?  I'm sure we can do a bit better each day bringing peace and goodwill to those around us.  Try it tomorrow.  Smile instead of grumble.  Be patient.  Help out without permission to do so nor needing notice of so doing.  

I know, imagine everyone you see or interact with wearing a lanyard and a picture badge with their name and title.  Here's an easy example-"Grandma Edge.  Child of God".

Tomorrow-Moving Shepherds.