For Yonder Breaks a New and Glorious Morn

There’s something about the electricity around these days, the buildup to Christmas, its excitement, the overwhelming nostalgia and sadness mixed with love and hope and joy.

I’ve already written about how difficult recent months have been, but how necessary I knew those pains had to be to get to whatever’s next. I know I’m not alone in feeling it, and I know the holidays can make such an ache especially clear.

I’ve found myself feeling all the emotions this holiday season: gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had in this lifetime, for the people I’ve been lucky enough to find along the way, heartache for the things I’ve lost in the process. Some days I have reveled in my strength, knowing that every day and every step brings me to the life I’ve been diligently building for myself. Some days I don’t want to get out of bed.

While I know there are mixed feelings about holiday music, I get so much comfort from it. “O Holy Night” especially hits all the right notes, literally and figuratively. There’s something about the melody, its subdued beginning swelling into an emotional burst that often brings tears to my eyes.

I’ve found myself singing this one a lot recently, especially when I have the opportunity to just belt it on the top of my lungs in the car or alone at the house. It’s been cathartic, a beautiful release that seems to perfectly capture the swirling, swell of emotions that come with the season. And although I’ve loved it for years, it’s only been recently I really tuned in to the hopeful line “for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

This time of year can be so difficult. This year especially has had so many dark, difficult parts. So many of us are feeling battered and broken. What better time to acknowledge the resilience and strength that’s gotten us this far, and to look forward to the possibilities that 2020 hopefully will bring.

Merry Christmas, dear friends, happy holidays, and love to you all. May we come out the other side wiser for our struggles.