All is well

I sat down to watch a Spurs game one night a few weeks ago and ended shedding a few tears.  Not at the Spurs; they were well on their way to a win.  I got sidetracked and realized that the CMA Country Christmas special was on.  There's not too much that distracts me from a Spurs game, but this did!  It was that night, listening to the majestic Christmas music, that drew me hook, line and sinker into the season.

Have you ever been touched by a song so much that it just continued to stay with you in your head? That night, I watched Carrie Underwood and Michael W. Smith perform "All is Well." Smith had co-written this song for his first Christmas album in 1989.  Their performance was one of the more moving performances of the evening.  I can't seem to get the song out of my mind.... "All is well all is well. Angels and men rejoice. For tonight darkness fell into the dawn of love's light. Sing A-le. Sing Alleluia.  All is well. All is well.  Let there be peace on earth. Christ is come go and tell. That He is in the manger. Sing A-le. Sing Alleluia.  All is well all is well. Lift up your voice and sing. Born is now Emmanuel. Born is our Lord and Savior. Sing Alleluia. Sing Alleluia. All is well." (Words by Wayne Kirkpatrick. Music by Michael W. Smith)

Just this morning as I was driving and listening to this track, I once again was touched by this song. Why? Not sure totally, but it lifted my eyes from the here and now of life and drew me to God and his glory. I worshiped!  Life is good for me, but certainly not ALL my circumstances are perfect.  Far from it!  How can I sing "All is well" and really believe that it is true? Because it is.  The words speak of Christ's birth, and the beauty and simplicity of his humble beginnings in this world. God sent His Son Jesus to this earth in the form of a baby to draw all men to Himself.  With Christ, there is peace. With Christ, there is hope. With Christ, all is well.

Being alive as long as I have, I know that life brings its share of challenges.  The longer you live, you too, know this to be true.  Jesus, the baby, brought a way to God that makes things well, even though they may not FEEL well at the time.  Romans 5:1 says "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Even if life does not feel well, all can be well. Even when holidays aren't what we want them to be, all can be well. Even when family members aren't behaving, all can be well. Even when we feel judge, betrayed or rejected, all can be well. Even when we feel forgotten, all can be well. Even when we have been overlooked, all can be well.  Even when we are way too busy, all can be well. Even when we are grieving, all can be well.

Have you felt some of these things lately? I know I have.  Yet, this Christmas, I desire to lift my eyes from the darkness and experience the dawn of love's light. To worship God. Will you lift your eyes above your challenges and see the glory of this marvelous Christmas season? What would your life be like if you really believe all is well? And, by the way, if you missed this amazing special on TV, it will air again on the weekend before Christmas.  God's peace to you today and always.  All is well. Merry Christmas!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.