Song to Share – Some Children See Him
Nativity sets are a standard in many of our homes. Back in 2013 at my church in Dayton, Ohio, we invited congregation members to bring their sets to the church so we could share them with each other. The name of the event was “No Room in the Inn.”
It was great to see the great variety of sizes, shapes and colors. It was pretty cool.
I couldn’t help but wonder as I moved from one creche to the next, where did we get the idea that Jesus looked so much like a Germanic Lutheran than a man from Palestine? I know that there are artists who depicted Jesus as one who looked quite a bit like those around him or her. DiVinci’s Last Supper is a prime example of that.
But God’s color palette is much more of a rainbow than a single shade.
We are ALL made in the image of God. Jesus came to die and rise for ALL the world. May we see in our Savior as the Savior of our neighbor who looks nothing like us.
A favorite Christmas song of mine is “Some Children See Him.” James Taylor’s version is wonderful.
I didn’t realize the song has been around for nearly 70 years!
Here is some information I found about the song.
"Some Children See Him" was composed by Alfred Burt (April 22, 1920 – February 7, 1954) an American jazz musician who wrote between 1942 and 1954 an annual Christmas carol with an old family friend, Wilha Hutson. He would send the festive song out each year as an annual holiday gift. This was the one he wrote in 1951. With the U.S. engaged in the Korean War–following so closely after the Second World War with Germany and Japan–the simple but moving lyric of this carol affirmed that children of any nationality could imagine Jesus to be like them, with the underlying message that love is more important than any claim of race or nationality. In 1995, the [small pacific island] country of Palau issued a series of stamps … commemorating “Some Children See Him”, and its message of tolerance. – alfredburtcarols.com
Here are the lyrics -
Some Children See Him
by Wihla Hutson & Alfred S. Burt 1951.
Some children see Him lily white, the baby Jesus born this night. Some children see Him lily white, with tresses soft and fair. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, The Lord of heav’n to earth come down. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, with dark and heavy hair.
Some children see Him almond-eyed, this Savior whom we kneel beside. some children see Him almond-eyed, with skin of yellow hue. Some children see Him dark as they, sweet Mary’s Son to whom we pray. Some children see him dark as they, and, ah! they love Him, too!
The children in each different place will see the baby Jesus’ face like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, and filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing and with thy heart as offering, come worship now the infant King. ‘Tis love that’s born tonight!
Finally, a video slideshow I put together with the Nativity sets and some songs, including James Taylor’s version of “Some Children See Him” as well as Amy Grant’s “Welcome To Our World” and “Away In a Manger” by the Piano Guys. I hope you enjoy!
Let us Pray. Thank you, God for the wonderful tapestry of your creation. May we catch a glimpse of You in everyone we meet. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.