"Joy to the World" by Marianne Neth
“Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things.” (Psalm 72:18)
One of my favorite Christmas carols starting from childhood is “Joy to the World,” a song of rejoicing and praise for God similar to the verse above. However, in 1962 after I had just turned eleven, I wasn’t sure how I would enjoy Christmas and praising God with carols anytime soon.
My doubting began when my wonderful dad, Frank Millen, passed away unexpectedly in mid-October, and my heart was crushed. No longer would he be there to drive me to church or piano lessons, guide me with math homework, put his strong arms around me or see his gentle smile and beautiful blue eyes. I was terribly sad and very downhearted about life in general.
Thankfully, both my dad and mom, Peggy Millen, had a strong faith in God and His promise of eternal life through God’s son, Jesus. They had taught my brothers and myself those same beliefs, so I knew in my heart that my dad was in heaven. Yet, that didn’t keep me from thinking how unfair it was not to have him with us anymore.
In November amid this grief, there came a turning point. My mom said the usual dinner blessing thanking God for our food, and then she went on to thank God for giving our family the wonderful blessing of having Frank as her husband and as the father of her three children. She even added how fortunate we all were to have had him in our lives for any length of time. Wait, she was thanking God? I definitely did not understand this, but my mom continued to keep praying daily this prayer of thanksgiving.
Very slowly I began to see the loss of my dad through the eyes of my mom. Instead of a sad and weary heart, I could have gratefulness and joy in my heart for all the wonderful years I had treasured with my dad. When Christmas arrived, even I had started thanking God for all our many blessings (especially my dad). I was also enjoying my favorite carol, “Joy to the World” and appreciated the verse phrase, “And Wonders of his Love,” with a happy heart.
Like the Psalmist who is praising God for doing such wonderful things in the verse above, I can praise God, my eternal Father, for giving me the magnificent blessing of my wonderful dad during my childhood years.