The Songs Tell the Story: A Family Advent DevotionalPrimjer

The Song Inspired by Laughing Babies

“Do You Hear What I Hear?” was written in 1962 by Noël Regney, an American man.

It was a cold day in October of 1962, and Mr. Regney was walking through the streets of Manhattan. He looked at the faces of people who were scared and worried that the United States might go to war with the Russians. The Soviet Union had placed missiles in Cuba that could have been sent to almost any city in the United States. For two weeks, people were very afraid of what might happen

Noël Regney never thought he would write a Christmas carol. In fact, he said he didn’t want to because Christmas had become, in his opinion, too commercial.

That night, walking through the streets of Manhattan, Mr. Regney saw two mothers taking their babies for a walk in their strollers. He found himself looking at the babies, who were smiling, laughing, and playing—and he realized he was smiling too. The babies’ faces held the opposite expressions of the adults he’d seen.

So, by the time he’d arrived home, Noël Regney had composed the words to “Do You Hear What I Hear?” in his head. Later that evening, he wrote the words on paper and his wife, Gloria, wrote the music for the Christmas carol we sing today.

Sometimes, the news of our day holds stories that cause us to feel worried or afraid. The words of this Christmas carol are important to remember. Our King would want us to pray for peace—everywhere. We can remember the holy child of Christmas, sleeping at night, and that Jesus came to bring the world both “goodness and light.”

Jesus will bring “goodness and light” this Christmas too.

Do you know how?

Jesus was talking to his disciples when he said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). There can be goodness and light in our world today if God’s people will allow their faith to shine. That is why God gave us his Holy Spirit. We don’t just “act” like a Christian. We can live as a person who has become like Christ, through the Holy Spirit.

A child of God is the light of the world. Will you ask Jesus to shine in your life today?

If so, he will bring light to the places you go, whenever you enter the room.