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What I love about this record is I feel like even if you’ve only had a Beaver Cleaver Christmas, at some point your grandfather does pass away. Then you think, The world will never be the same again. Even people who haven’t been touched by tragedy experience loss.
CCM: The rendition of “Joy To The World” on the new project is so pensive and introspective versus the typical trumpeted fare. I don’t know if I have ever heard the depth of the hymn’s lyric like I do here, especially the line: He comes to make His blessings flow / Far as the curse is found. That’s what we are talking about here, right? The contrast of dark and light, all wrapped up in the same season.
AG: It was Ed Cash’s idea to record that song at that pace. We played it down and he said, “Amy, how does it feel?” I said, “I am scared to death. How do you sing the song this slow?” [Laughs] It was suddenly so poignant, like a beautiful wrecking ball. It just took us all to our knees.
He comes to make His blessings flow / Far as the curse is found … (from “Joy To The World”)
Almost every night of December I’m on stage. Whether it’s with Michael [W. Smith] and Jordan [Smith] on the road show or with Vince [Gill] at The Ryman or our free concert at Lipscomb University or rehearsal, I’ve had so much time in a context where I’m surrounded by music to ponder all things Christmas. Many times onstage, while somebody else is singing, I think about the angels saying to the shepherds, “Behold, the good news of great joy that will be for all people. A savior is born.” In my mind, I think, God, is that just for people that are setting up nativities?
When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do,” Was that just for the people that nailed Him to the cross? Or is Your plan so massive that when the angel said, “Behold, I bring good news of great joy that will be for all people,” Is that what you meant? Is your message so profound that we cannot even wrap our heads around it? Every night I find myself saying, “God, please let that be it. Please let that be it.”
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Thanks for the article about Amy Grant and for the reminder that Christmas can be both the most wonderful time of the year and can be some of the most challenging, as well. It’s a reminder that God is still in control no matter what we go through this or any time of the year.