A Gift

So this morning on my way to work I heard "The Gift". This song has become my favorite Christmas song of all time. They don't play it on the radio very much, so it was a nice suprise for me to hear it this morning. And as usual, I cried. Not just a little misting of tears but full on, streaming down my face. I can't pick out one or two things about this song that makes it so touching for me. It is the whole song. The version that is my favorite is sung by a young girl, I don't know her name. So, in case you don't know what song I am talking about, here are the words:

The Gift

A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for a rest by the roadside
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed till she saw it
For it's feathers were covered with sand
But soon clean and wrapped it was travelling
In the warmth of Maria's small hand

She happily gave her last peso
On a cage made of rushes and twine
She fed it loose corn from the market
And watched it grow stronger with time

Now the Christmas Eve service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the townfolks brought presents
To lay by the manger that night
There were diamonds and incense
And perfumes
In packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
Maria had nothing to bring

She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in
And crying she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of Him

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
Maria, what brings you to me
If the bird in the cage is your offering
Open the door and let me see
Though she trembled, she did as He asked her
And out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new

Just then the midnight bells rang out
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture
Whose beauty was fit for a king

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
To that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offerings was lifted to heaven
By the very first nightingale's song

Maybe I like it so much because it reminds me of something that I would do-stop and save the birdie. I am not sure, I just know that I love it! I need to try and find a CD with it on there. Gee, then I would be crying all the time! :-)

So, go sing you favorite Chrsitmas Song right now!