The Proofreader’s favorite Christmas carol is God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. At least, it was years ago when making your own music CDs was about the geekiest thing a geek could possibly do for another geek.

And we are, so I did…

I made her a CD of like 11 or 12 cuts – all the SAME song, just different artists and arrangements. Her favorite Christmas carol, over and over in different ways. And no, it wasn’t intended as a joke. And yes, she did love it very much. No idea where that disc is now, but she still smiles when she hears one of those ‘variations’ pop up somewhere.

This version wasn’t one of those selected, and it didn’t even exist until decades after I first did the deed, but if it had been around, it would have led off the disc. He has come for us. Born to give us life.

God rest ye merry, dear friends.

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O, tidings of comfort and joy

He has come for us, this Jesus
He’s the hope for all mankind
He has come for us, the Messiah
Born to give us life

From God, our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
O, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O, tidings of comfort and joy

He has come for us, this Jesus
He’s the hope for all mankind
He has come for us, the Messiah
Born to give us life

All the angels sing “Hallelujah! Jesus Christ is born!”
All the children sing “Hallelujah! He is Christ the Lord!”

He has come for us, this Jesus
He’s the hope for all mankind
He has come for us, the Messiah
Born to give us life
– Jason Ingram / Meredith Andrews