Holidays

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Echoes of Joy
By Darlene Hight



Joyous melody stood, barely able to breathe as the Conductor moved closer.
"Is it my turn?", he asked in a whisper.

"Not yet." the Conductor answered "Your time will come and it will be glorious, well worth the wait."

Tears stung Joyous Melody's eyes as crushing disappointment entered his spirit. I can't bare the wait. What good is a song that can't be expressed? Music shouldn't have to wait. Should it? When? When will it be my time?

Years past and Joyous stood by as his friends 'Haunting Melody', 'Lilting Cadence', and 'Hopeful Sonnet' each in turn had their day of selection. In fact, they had been selected more than once by the conductor. And yet, Joyous waited and waited. Maybe my song isn't worthy of singing or worse, maybe, I don't have a song to sing. The doubts assailed him. He wondered if perhaps his song had dried up. What if when my turn comes, my song is no more than a clang? He was plagued with doubt and discouragement. And then just at the right moment, when his song seemed heavy and nearing a silent grave, the Conductor approached.
"Joyous, have you noticed the activity in heaven over the last few days?" asked the Conductor.

"Yes, Is something important about to happen?" Joyous asked curious about the stirring in heaven and the stirring in his own heart.


"It is the most important event that has ever been. It has been planned from the beginning of time. This one event will change the world forever. And you, Joyous will be a part of it. Now is your time to sing."

Tears coursed down Joyous' cheeks. "It's my turn?" he whispered.

"Joyous, you have waited long and I know that it was hard but you are ready, now. You have been well trained. You have learned the lesson of timing. Your song must begin slowly, at first on the lips of Elizabeth who is married to Zacharias and the soon to be mother of John. Next, you will give voice to Mary, a young girl who has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus, God's own son. But the full force of your song must wait until it is sung by a choir of angels as they announce the birth of Jesus, the savior of the world. Joyous, your song will never end. It will be repeated down through the ages. Many songs but one joyous event and one Joyous Melody; Hark the Herald Angels sing, Go tell it on the Mountain, Away in the Manger, Ring the Bells of Heaven and so many more songs in all languages over the entire earth, each one a Joyous Melody. Joyous, go tell your story, sing your song, now and forever.

Joyous waited, breathlessly, expectantly as the angels assembled. Then, the song burst forth in a Joyous Melody that had never before been heard and it still echoes today.

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