by Emily Medlock
Technically, we’ve come so far the last 100 years, but have our hearts progressed as well? “Someday at Christmas” was written 60-years ago during the Vietnam War. A war no one wanted to fight. A war that gave 300,000 men PTSD, and rose the rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, and suicide.
Now, decades later, we’re still facing the consequences of this war and other wars, but the true war runs much deeper. The war between good and evil, light and darkness, love and hate.
As Michael Jackson once said, “If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.”
If you only listen to one Christmas song this year, please let “Someday at Christmas” be it.
“Someday at Christmas, men won’t be boys
Playin’ with bombs like kids play with toys”
The way we talk about weapons, death, and human life is quite shameful. Again, Michael Jackson felt this dream at a young age. But it wasn’t until he was older that he gave us the line, “Let us dream of tomorrow where we can truly love from the soul, and know love as the ultimate truth at the heart of all creation.”
If only we talked about peace more than we talked about war, maybe it would come to be.
“One warm December, our hearts will see
A world where men are free”
Slavery was abolished 150 years ago. The civil rights movement took place over 50 years ago. But today, there are still billions of people who aren’t yet free. For those who are fed, accepted, and warm, demons, addictions, and works of the flesh often hold us captive. We’re often fed with anger, hate, and resentment, not knowing that kindness, love, and friendship tastes so much sweeter.
“Someday at Christmas, there’ll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life’s really worth
There’ll be peace on Earth”
Christmas. It’s nearing. But what is Christmas all about anyway? Is there a “war on Christmas”? Yes, there sure is, but it is not the secularization on Christmas. The “war on Christmas” is the dwindling of spirituality, kindness, and generosity that it is meant to represent.
As Genesis 21:23 states: “Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.”
“Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmas time”
The original “Someday at Christmas” was performed by Stevie Wonder in 1967 and covered by the Jackson 5 in 1970. Michael Jackson passed in 2009, but Stevie Wonder still lives. Yet, what do we give him? A world that is still waiting for “someday”. Will our children ever see someday? Our grandchildren?
“Someday at Christmas, we’ll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning, people will share
A world where people care, oh!”
To this day, close to 10 million people die of hunger every year! Parents used to lead us to believe that cleaning our own plate will somehow lower that number. But it’s a much larger problem than that. It would be great if it were as easy as taking your neighbor a fruitcake, but it’s not. Oftentimes, we believe that looking at someone less fortunate with pity somehow makes us a good person, but actions speak so much louder than thoughts.
This is true in every situation. In relationships as well. People will only see what you do. Action creates change. Prayer and action.
“Someday at Christmas, there’ll be no tears
Where all men are equal and no man have fears
One shining moment, one prayer away
From our world today”
Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of the year. It’s our Savior’s birth, a time of year where our hearts are generally the fullest. Yes, stress and depression peak during the holidays. And it’s all due to broken hearts. A heart that feels alone, a heart that feels lesser than, a heart that feels underappreciated, a heart that feels betrayed. We break each other’s hearts every single day…I think its time we start caring.
It can take ten seconds to turn a stranger’s day around, and five to make a loved one smile. Give them the Christmas they need.
“Someday at Christmas, men would not have failed
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday in a world that we can start with hope in every heart, oh!”
This is the perfect line to a Christmas song, or any song really – “Hate will be gone and love will prevail.” If we all spoke, acted, and led our lives with love, then Stevie Wonder could finally see…someday.
1 Corinthians 16:14-16: “Let love prevail in your life, words, and actions.”
It doesn’t matter what you do to celebrate Christmas. It simply matters that you’re always striving to reach “someday”. The secret is, it could be this Christmas. Maybe not for the world, but for everyone you come in contact with. Friends, family, and strangers alike. You could make someday…today.
It may be the coldest winter in decades, but we can still make it the warmest Christmas we’ve ever had. Can we honor Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and most of all…the One who gave us life in the first place? We may want gifts, praise, and celebrations on our birthdays. But what about our Lord? Let’s give Jesus Christ the best birthday gift that we can give Him. It starts with the heart and ends with “someday”.
Emily Medlock is a freelance writer who specializes in video games, movies, viral content, Christianity, music and YouTube video scripts. Visit her online at emilymedlock.com/blog.