"Consider well and bear in mind what our good God for us has done."

Carol: “Good People All, This Christmas Time” – 12th Century Irish
Tune: WEXFORD CAROL

Because this is not one of those familiar ones that come tripping off the tongue, I will print the first stanza; when you listen to it, you’ll realize how very Irish it is!

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary, Joseph we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day.
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born.

I’m using this carol NOW because it seems to go along with our taking down the tree and re-packing all our Christmas decorations – telling us not to forget why we have just celebrated this high, holy church season.

Consider well: think sincerely on the past few weeks of Advent’s anticipation and Christmas’s fulfillment. 

Bear in mind: carry with you into the next year the truth, the joy, the shared love of the recent days.

It’s a bit archaic, but we still hear people say (especially in arguments), “Now bear in mind…” That translates to “Now don’t forget.” Seems that this phrase from the ancient Irish carol is reminding us to remember what God has done for us in the midst of all our partying, eating, singing, concerting, etc.

Something you might do to help you with this: Write those first four lines of the carol on a large piece of paper and place it on the top of the last tub you store away after undecorating. Then when you open the box next year, you’ll be reminded of what the season is all about BEFORE you start decorating!

Hear This Carol with Allison Krauss with Yo-Yo Ma