Sing we all of the Savior's Birth

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Last night we attended the choir concert of my second son, Joshua. This is his second year in choir at his school, our diocesan all-boys prep school. Unlike most high schools, choir at S.C. is a class, not an extra curricular. I don't know if that makes it better or worse, just different. I do think that when you are being graded on your effort, you try a little harder. This is Joshua's senior year and last Christmas concert at S.C. (I do hope he'll continue with a men's glee club in college) and his choir director asked him if he would like a solo part. Joshua did not reveal to me that he had a solo part until last week. Partly because he knew I would stress it and partly because he just didn't want to make a big deal out of it. He said it was "just a couple seconds."

Well, he did a fabulous job and he shocked the pants off his dad and I (and a couple of faculty members who attended). This is a kid who generally doesn't open his mouth much, much less to sing. Such a surprise, a glorious surprise. Based on some developmental issues he had when he was young,  we wondered if this boy would go to school, much less this very challenging school, much less do so very well -- never doubt that God can work miracles. Never, never, never.

I apologize in advance for the quality of this video -- it's just awful (Noah was sitting next to me crumpling his program through half of it!), but I wanted to share such a big moment for us. I have posted the words to the hymn as they sang it below. It's beautiful. When there is only one singer -- that's Joshua!

He is born, the holy child.
Play on the oboe and bagpipes merrily.
He is born, the holy child.
Sing we all of the Saviour's birth

Through long ages of the past,
Prophets have foretold his coming;
Through long ages of the past,
Now the time has come at last. Chorus

Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Coming as a child among us,
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Grant to us Thy heav'nly peace.  Chorus