Star of Wonder, Star of Night

Ever since I can remember, my parent's Christmas tree has been topped by an illuminated white plastic star. It is a very simple five pointed star, nothing really shiny or ornate. Rather classic. It is treasured and beloved by my family. So beloved, that in order to keep family peace, my father has scavenged flea markets over the years so my brother and I each have our very own illuminated star for our respective trees. He's even bought one in a yard sale for a neighbor who expressed admiration for the star.

The tradition continues on to for the next generation. Sometime last week, my niece informed her father that when she grew up she wanted the star from her parent's tree for her own. Instead of scouring yard sales and flea markets or antique stores, Jim went directly to eBay for his little girl. And he found not just one, but two stars exactly like the ones we grew up with and have for our own trees today. Just one little difference....the narrow red lines that Dad laboriously scratched off of each of our own stars are still intact on the stars up for auction on eBay (and Jim really wants to 'try out' the red lines - therefore the extra star Dad has stashed away wasn't exactly what Jim is looking for).

Once Jim found the star, he called me for advice on bidding. I was as helpful as possible but he got inundated with life and incredibly busy. So I offered to bid for him and last night before I went to bed I placed a bid on the 2nd star eBay was offering. I woke up this morning to the email alerting me that I 'won' the star for my brother. And I realized I had an appropriate picture for the 12th Day of Christmas. My original intent for the 12 Days of Christmas was to find a photo subject that I could pair with a Christmas carol. That didn't go so well as you can see if you scroll back over the past week and a half. When I initially had the idea, I thought that I would end the 12 Days of Christmas with the carol, "We Three Kings" since the Magi arrived with their gifts much later than the shepherds and announcing angels. And as events wonderfully work out, today, a new plastic star, beloved by three generations of my family, is finding its way across the continent to come rest in a box and wait to be used on another family member's Christmas tree. Kinda makes me want to sing.....

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to rein

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray'r and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light