Annie's Favorite Christmas Carol

I'm sure I've already told you this story, but it's Christmas, so I'll tell you again. When Annie was little--before her brain injury--her favorite Christmas Carol was Hark the Herald Angels Sing. She listened to it on the Charlie Brown Christmas CD we had, and loved to sing along, especially at the end where she would strain to reach the high notes of "Glory to the newborn King!"

After her brain injury, we would play the Charlie Brown music on the Ipod, and she would turn her head to the music and just light up like a Christmas tree when she heard this song. Now she gets to sing along with the angels. And I imagine she no longer has trouble hitting the high notes.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:
hail, the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace:
hail, the Sun of Righteousness.
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.


Charles Wesley   (1707-1788)