God rest us merry

The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds by Thomas Cole

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is one of my family's favorite Christmas carols. It is great for harmonization and has a rollicking chorus that comes around frequently. (This is helpful when you can't remember the lyrics to each individual verse . . . you can always chime in with tidings of comfort and joy every four lines!)

This year, however, a particular verse jumped out at us as we sang it during Christmas devotions.

In Bethlehem, in Israel, this blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary did nothing take in scorn,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.

Everyone's immediate comment: "Wait a minute. The witch, his mother Mary?!!"

Between that and reading Luke 2:16 as "Joseph and Mary and the baby lying in a manger" (how did they all fit?) we had some good laughs on Christmas morning.

And good food. I'll post about that later. :)