Christmas longings

I posted the words to a Third Day song on my blog 2 years ago as I waited for Matani to come home, and it seems fitting to post them again this year. I was hoping that Mikaiya would be home with us by Christmas this year, but it looks like it will be another 4-5 months before she is finally able to come home. Please continue to pray for her well-being, for the adoption to proceed smoothly (and more quickly than it is right now!), and for the Democratic Republic of Congo. They recently held presidential elections, which did not go particularly smoothly or peacefully. The results are now hotly contested, with the losing candidate claiming that the results were fraudulent and that he is the actual winner. There is a great deal of concern over how the country will now respond. Please pray for God's hand to be on the leaders and the people of that nation, for Him to have His way there, and for many to come to the Lord through this struggle, whatever the outcome may be. Please also pray for the safety of the many, many orphaned children there, who are marginalized and poorly cared for.

And now, here are the words to "Merry Christmas":

There's a little girl, trembling on a cold December morn, 

     Crying for momma's arms.

At an orphanage just outside a little [Congo] town, 

     Where the forgotten are.

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire 

     And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine. 

It's Christmas time again but you're not home. 

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone.

So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms. 

And I tell you from my heart, I wish you Merry Christmas. 

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights, 

     I'm warmed by the fire's glow.

Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white, 

     And make angels in the snow.

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears

     And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here. 

It's Christmas time again but you're not home. 

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone.

So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms. 

And I tell you from my heart, I wish you Merry Christmas. 

Christmas is the time to celebrate the holy child 

     And we celebrate his perfect gift of love.

He came to earth to give his life and prepare a place for us, 

     So we could have a home with him above. 

It's Christmas time again and now you're home.  

Your family is here and you will never be alone.

So tonight before you go to bed, I'll hold you in my arms. 

And I'll tell you from my heart...I wish you Merry Christmas.