Whenever I start hearing Christmas music in stores and on the radio station, it reminds me that Christmas is near. Even though so much of what is out there is commercialized, when I hear some of the nostalgic songs it brings a warm feeling inside of me.
Here in Ann Arbor, WNIC, FM 100.3 plays Christmas songs all throughout the day until Christmas day.
Today they played the Christmas song that always moves me whenever I hear it. The Christian group Newsong sings a song called, The Christmas Shoes. The song tells a story about a boy who wanted to buy a pair of shoes for his sick and dying mother. It brings back the heart of Christmas – God, the Father gives the best and sacrificial gift (His Son) to a sick and dying world.
Here are the lyrics of the song:
Tryin’ to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing ’round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes
His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn’t believe what I heard him say
Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there’s not much time
You see she’s been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, “Son, there’s not enough here”
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I’ve got to buy her these Christmas shoes
So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I’ll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama’s gonna look so great
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there’s not much time
You see she’s been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
Bridge:
I knew I’d caught a glimpse of heaven’s love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about