Singing Christmas Tree and Cherishing Family

This past week, just a day after posting about the mall shooting in my own part of the world, news broke of the horrifying and deeply heartbreaking elementary school shooting in Newtown.   Children are such precious gifts, the news of this shooting was both frightening and beyond tragic.  Posting about fun Christmas happenings just didn't feel right, and after two shootings in just one week, it is hard to not be anxious, but with the reminder of the brevity of life, I want to cherish every moment I have with my family.

The high school's Singing Christmas Tree Performance took place this past weekend, and I will say, hearing all the beautiful choirs in our community warmed my heart.  Hearing my own children sing with their choirs is such a gift, everyone sang so beautifully.  

When the youngest choirs from our elementary schools sang, I could not help but tear up, such sweet souls!  They made us all chuckle with their curiosity of the cat walks and stage lighting, one little girl was waving to Santa, who was sitting in part of the set, she was so excited to see him.  They were all so cute. :)

The performance ended with the Hallelujah Chorus, which is always so beautiful to hear.  

I saw the whole performance three times, as my daughter is a Senior this year, it will be her last year as a student performing in the tree.   All the seniors were sentimental about their last performance, not a dry eye in the girls dressing room I hear, afterward all the seniors got together at a diner, and reminisced, sang and laughed together all evening.  Such a wonderful time, the whole weekend filled me with joy.

Events, like the recent tragedies, remind me how important it is to enjoy life and cherish the time we have with our loved ones.  I will continue to keep all those affected in my prayers, I can only begin to imagine the depth of their grief.  

One of the  passages in the Bible that I enjoy is Romans 12:9-21 on Love.  The verses that stood out to me were-

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)

and

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Romans 12:15 (NIV)

and the passage ends with this verse-

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  Romans 12:21 (NIV)