A Christmas Story…Lorealle is Her Name
I have a love of words, how they sound, what they mean. When it was nearing the date for the birth of my first child I just wasn’t finding names that I liked, names that I thought appropriate for this new joy coming into my life (I wasn’t a Christian at the time). Biblical names weren’t even on my radar screen! Being a musician and budding song writer, I would keep lists of names in notebooks around my house. Some names intrigued me because they were unusual. Others I liked because of the way they sounded. None of these many lists turned up a name I could warm up to… that reflected my feelings about my child. Finally in desperation I thought to myself, “This baby is going to be all of our fantasies rolled up into one small bundle. Hmmmm… let’s see… old English for all is alle…. Another word for fantasy is lore… Allelore… hmmm no… wait… Lorealle…”. So, there you have it. Lorealle means all of our fantasies (but I digress). My daughter to this day exclaims that she is thankful that I didn’t name her Bilbo from the Lord of the Rings!
It is November of 1993… my oldest is now 13 going on 31. Lorealle has been taking piano lessons all year and she wants my input on what to play for the Christmas recital. Nothing is striking her fancy (like father, like daughter). I ask her why she doesn’t try to write her own Christmas Carol. “It would be fun”. I said, “And I would be pleased to consider that my Christmas present.” She hymned and hawed and said, “I just don’t have enough time. The recital is in 4 weeks.” I sighed, “Okay, but it would be great if you would.” I think I remember encouraging her another time or two over the next week but finally moved onto other things with the busyness of the season.
Finally, it is the big night. I’m rushing to get to the recital on time from work and not riding with my family on the way to the recital. Just as the program starts I slide quietly into my seat. Then, for the next hour I listen to 22 adorably dressed little maestros present their renditions of Oh Holy Night, Frosty the Snowman, and Away in a Manager (about 4 of each if I remember correctly). Finally! The “Real Star” of the program (this is my re-telling) performs. She sits down and plays one more version of Oh Holy Night, the best of the evening. Of course, I’m delighted with how she played but still a little bit disappointed that there wasn’t a new Christmas Carol for the world to hear. After polite applause from everyone, her music teacher states that Lorealle has a special present for her father. Before I hear anything I start tearing up! The teacher says, “Lorealle has written a special song for the evening” then sits down at the piano, plays several intro chords, and Lorealle begins singing the following:
I can see a baby…
Lying in a manager…
And I can see the stars…
Shining overhead…
And I can hear the voices…
Of a thousand angels…
Singing me to sleep…
As I lie in my bed…
Lift up His Name…
Lift up your voice…
Sing out a song to the Lord…
Everyone Sing…
Everyone Rejoice…
Jesus Christ is born
I can see a man
Being crucified…
And I can see a crown of thorns
On His head…
This Man was a Baby…
God almighties Son…
And I am the reason He died
Lift up His Name…
Lift up your voice…
Sing out a song to the Lord…
Everyone Sing…
Everyone Rejoice…
Jesus Christ is born
Everyone listen…
And Everyone tell
Tell how a Savior crushed the power of hell
Oh… Everyone praise Him
For He is our King…
Everyone Praise Him
And everyone Sing
Lift up His Name…
Lift up your voice…
Sing out a song to the Lord…
Everyone Sing…
Everyone Rejoice…
Jesus Christ is born
Jesus Christ is born…
Jesus Christ is born…
And, I wept and laughed and worshipped the Lord… May it ever be so.
So, there you have it. A very special Christmas Carol from long ago. It reminds me of what true worship is… Reflecting on our Lord… bringing the praises of our hearts to Him… simple… pure… childlike… but isn’t that where true wisdom lies? Coming to Him with our dreams and skills… Letting Him lead us in living our lives with true passion and excitement? So, may this Christmas find us all join in singing…
Lift up His Name…
Lift up your voice…
Sing out a song to the Lord…
Everyone Sing…
Everyone Rejoice…
Jesus Christ is Born
