"Mary Did You Know" and "Christmas Even Sarajevo"

This morning I asked my children what they would like to see on this blog post. My daughter said "Mary Did You Know" was one of her favorites.



My son wanted to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Eve Sarajevo." I found this version, recorded live, beginning with a very moving poem I had never heard before. The words of the poem were a bit hard to understand in places, so I have typed them out below.



(Please note, this poem is anti-WAR, not anti-SOLDIER. We love our volunteer military men and women.)

When he flew o'er Sarajevo
There were scars upon the land.
There were scars upon the people.
It was hard to understand.
And the deepest scars of all,
Which to humans are unseen,
But the angel could see clearly,
Were the scars upon the dreams.
Like Belfast, Barundi,
Rawanda, Palestine,
The only decorations here.
Had been awarded for their crimes.
And in the gardens where the children played,
Now soldiers only trod.
And stranger still, he heard some say
That they were killing for their god.
Now the angel had heard God speak many times,
And he had always paid attention.
But this killing of one's neighbor
Was something the Lord had never mentioned.
But as he neared the earth,
A recent battleground,
From among the ruins
He once more heard the sound.
It was a single cello
Playing a forgotten Christmas song.
And even on that battlefield,
The song somehow belonged.
And as he flew away,
The angle did take note
That where he found this music played
One always could find . . . Hope.