Silence is Golden

You might recall that when I was home for Thanksgiving break, I commented about my nephews and joyful noises. I still hold to the assertions that I made in that post. Nevertheless, silence is also good. On Christmas day, there were six children ages three and under in the house, and there were 12 adults to help maintain order. Ours is a two bedroom one bathroom house. The temperature outside was around 30 degrees. Suffice it to say that as joyful noises go, I had my share of them yesterday.

Today only Dad and I are in the house, and even he has been outdoors for quite a bit of the day. Part of the family has made the ninety mile trek to Rapid City to check out the post-Christmas sales. Most have returned to work. I am left alone in the quiet. I find this silence to be rather joyful too. The words of that classic Christmas Hymn by Joseph Mohr come to mind:

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright,

Round yon virgin mother and child

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight;

Glories stream from Heaven afar.

Heavenly hosts sing alleluia,

Christ the savior is born!

Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, Love's pure light,

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.