Yes, Yes . . . I know. Christmas was last week.

Time to look forward. New Year’s Day is just around the corner.

And, who isn’t ready to say ‘goodbye’ to 2020. I agree! This old man has just gotta go!

But, before we leave this holiday season, let me share with you my Prayer for 2021. It comes from one of my favorite Christmas carols, but it’s not a song that comes to many people’s minds when asked to list their favorites.

It’s called . . . Some Children See Him. And, it dates back to my birth year (1951). The words were written by Wihla Huston.

Before I give you the words and a link to a wonderful recording of the song, allow me to tell you a bit about the author of the lyrics. (Kudos to Holly the Soprano for this wonderful article we quote here)

Wihla Hutson, like my beautiful wife Sandy, was born in Indiana. She was an only child, and a musical prodigy. After her musical education, she became the church organist for All Saints Church in Pontiac, Michigan – home to the Reverend Bates Burt, and his son, Reverend Alfred S. Burt [of choral music fame]. Ms. Hudson never married, but she had hundreds of friends and she was known as Aunt Wihla to all of the children in her community. She brought joy to the world through her music and poetry, and served faithfully in her church until the day she died in March 2002 – just a few days before her 101st birthday! She wrote a new Christmas hymn each year to be presented to the congregation, and in 1951, Some Children See Him made its debut.

With the U.S. engaged in the Korean War – following so closely after the Second World War with Germany and Japan – the simple but moving lyric of this carol affirmed that children of any nationality could imagine Jesus to be like them, with the underlying message that love is more important than any claim of race or nationality.

In 1995, the small Pacific Island country of Palau issued a series of stamps commemorating Some Children See Him and its message of tolerance.

Here are Aunt Whila’s precious words…

Some children see Him lily white
The baby Jesus born this night
Some children see Him lily white
With tresses soft and fair

Some children see Him bronzed and brown
The Lord of heav’n to earth come down
Some children see Him bronzed and brown
With dark and heavy hair

Some children see Him almond-eyed
This Saviour whom we kneel beside
Some children see Him almond-eyed
With skin of yellow hue

Some children see Him dark as they
Sweet Mary’s Son to whom we pray
Some children see him dark as they
And, oh they love Him too

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus’ face
Like theirs, but bright, with heavenly grace
And filled with holy light

Oh, lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering
Come worship now the infant King
‘Tis love that’s born tonight

Finally, click here to take a listen to Andy Williams beautiful rendition of the song!

My prayer for 2021: May we all see the face of Jesus, and move, with intentional hearts of love, toward peace and reconciliation, bringing healing and hope to us all. For His Name’s sake. Amen.