As many of you know, my almost 13 year old Keeshond, Teddy, died in August. Many of you have met the new “replacement,” Buster.

I always find “puppyhood” a shock. All of the commands that worked so well and effortlessly with Teddy have no effect on Buster (at least at first). It was never a problem to leave Teddy unattended in the house. I’m always fearful at what I might find when I leave Buster alone even for a short period.

Of course, some things about “puppyhoods” are really cool. Last week, I happened to look out into my backyard and saw a beautiful snowfall. Huge flakes were floating to the ground. Buster was even more delighted. He was running as fast as he could, jumping as high and as often as he could, catching as many flakes as he could. It was one of the funniest things I have ever scene. It was a joy to see a first snowfall though a puppy’s eyes.

This is one of the joys parents, grandparents, and all adults have in witnessing Christmas through a child’s eyes. There is an innocence and freshness, and that innocence and freshness somehow enters into us too.

This is also what we feel when we gaze upon the Christ child. It helps us to begin to understand Jesus’ words, “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

It is akin to the magic I feel when I contemplate the words of one of the carols (by Sabine Baring-Gould) our choir will be singing during the Christmas season:

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now reclining,
sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the infant King.
Angels are watching, stars are shining
over the place where He is lying:
sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now a-sleeping,
sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the infant King.
Soon will come sorrow with the morning,
soon will come bitter grief and weeping:
sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now a-dozing,
sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the infant King.
Soon comes the cross, the nails, the piercing,
then in the grave at last reposing;
sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby! is the babe awaking?
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not stir the infant King.
Dreaming of Easter, gladsome morning.
conquering death, its bondage breaking:
sing lullaby!