It’s another song that overviews the whole story of redemption, because I think this early in Advent, we sometimes are too quick to jump right to the Holly Jolly Turbo Jingle Hoo Whee Light The Tree Get Yer Christmas On Uff Da! aspect of the season, and don’t settle down with the whole story.

I admit my own “inner voice” of this Christmas carol always takes it much, much too fast, rolling through it in a morning church service, with little or no time to really think about it. Especially when we usually drop a verse or two… or three… That may be why when I recorded my version of it on my much not acclaimed and seldom heard album Whistlewonder: The Carols of Christmas, (told you these early days would be from that album, I did. Yessss… *bonus points if you heard that in the voice of Yoda*) I always extend the repeating phrase that flies by, when we should really be thinking about what we’re singing: “Oh come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for Thee.”

Is there? Have I made room?

Because make no mistake, kiddos – making room for the King is a daily/hourly/moment by moment thing. We’ll throw him under the bus for any and all sorts of distractions, and not realize until Sunday rolls around that we did so. (We folks with ADHD already understand this – you neurotypical humanbeans could learn a lot from us…) So that phrase – the statement that there is room in my heart? It’s both acknowledging that He is welcome, and a sobering reminder that I actually have to make room and keep it open. Every moment of every day. I fail miserably every day, but His invitation is to pick myself up, and try again. And again. And again.

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
– E.S. Elliot