~by Michelle
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Mormons”) reserve Monday nights to spend with family, for what is called Family Home Evening. Last week, we went to a Christmas “Night in Bethlehem” activity sponsored by a local arts/reception center. They had transformed a room into a bustling Bethlehem, with different “shops” to visit. While we were wandering around the different stations in the darkened room, quietly a young couple entered, representing Mary and Joseph. We watched them knock on the doors of several “inns” and, of course, be turned away.
Then a familiar strain of music began playing, and my children and I looked at each other with excitement. It was one of our favorite Christmas songs, composed by Shawna Edwards, entitled “Do You Have Room?” As we watched Mary and Joseph walk away toward the next room (where we would watch a live nativity to the Bible account of the Christmas story in Luke 2 and sing sacred Christmas music), one of the Bethlehem “residents” began singing some of the lyrics to Shawna’s song.
Do you have room for the Savior? And do you seek Him anew?
Have you a place for the One who lived and died for you?
Are you as humble as a shepherd boy, or as wise of men of old?
Would you have come that night? Would you have sought the light?
Do you have room?
Our youngest daughter was particularly moved by the whole evening, to the point of bursting into tears when we got to our car. She reflected on the words to “Do You Have Room?”, wondering what she would have done to make room for Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. What a tender moment. We talked about how important it is for us to make room for Jesus in our lives now.
As we listened as a family to the First Presidency Devotional two nights ago, we were again able to discuss what things we could do to make the Savior more of the focus during the Christmas season. We decided on a new tradition that I hope will carry into future years.
What are you doing to make room for the Savior this Christmas?
Share your thoughts (or a favorite Christmas memory) in a comment at Shawna Edwards Music* and Shawna will send you a free copy the MP3 of the original recording of “Do You Have Room?” I encourage you take a few moments and read what others have written as well.
*Be sure to include a valid email address.
Photos courtesy of Kelly P. — a woman who kindly responded to my random request to take a picture at the nativity display at the “Night at Bethlehem” activity…my camera was missing in action that night. Even in little ways, people can show kindness and love that makes a difference. Thanks, Kelly.
Hi Michelle!
The song is lovely and I would love to have the MP3 but all of the links are non functional. When I click on them, they don’t go anywhere.
Thanks,
Anne
Anne,
Hm. Not sure why they aren’t working for you. But you can cut and paste one of the following links to comment at Shawna’s site:
http://shawnaedwards.com/2011/12/03/day-4-the-christmas-that-changed-my-life/
OR
http://shawnaedwards.com/how-to-get-a-free-copy-of-the-music/
We have a tradition each Christmas of preparing a song that goes a bit beyond the normal caroling kind of song. I had decided on “Whence cometh that goodly fragrance?”. We normally sing completely acapella.
Then our son, who works with your husband, heard of the song, listened to it and sent us the link, suggesting we consider it. I heard it once and immediately knew that this was going to work really well for us.
I bought the .mp3 and the SATB, 10 copies. We did notice that the .mp3 was for the solo version and is in a different key than the SATB version as written. So we made some changes in the tenor voice to make it so that we could carry a battery powered player with us, and play the accompaniment which was a new innovation for us. We also took out F in the SATB and came up with our own ending.
At several homes there were people who either were not active in our church, or not members at all. It was the power of the questions in the song, that do what questions do, open the heart. (Search for “?” in the scriptures to see how the Savior used them.) The effect was wonderful as hearts were touched. I don’t think there was a single time when I could finish. We visited our Stake President and asked him to listen to the words carefully and then tell us what the theme was to him. He said that the song asked if he personally was making daily room for the Savior in his life. He personalized it immediately.
After we got home, we changed in to our pajamas, which is our tradition, had a bite to eat and then had a family discussion about 4 questions I came up with centered on the theme. One big insight that came our family is that making room, usually means taking something out of the space, and throwing it away. At some point, you can’t jam more stuff in. Like the pioneers, if you want the oxen to make it to the valley, you have to take stuff out, leave it on the trail, and move on from there. Repentance is about taking stuff out, so that there is room for more light and goodness. It was a good family discussion and will be the theme for the year. We will keep coming back to it. Are you willing to put yourself at risk, make yourself vulnerable, give others the opportunity to gossip about you, because you have been obedient? What if obedience to the spirit means opening yourself up to the ridicule of others you go to church with, or work with? How is that part of making room?
So there you have it. A suggestion or two which is to make sure people understand that the .mp3 is for the solo version of the music and that you don’t have an .mp3 version of the music for the SATB version. Also, a place were just the lyrics can be found without having to type them up again off the sheet music.
Thanks for sharing the inspiration that came to you for your family, when it was appropriate to do so. I sing the song constantly and find myself needing to be much better and more concrete when it comes to what it means, to make room.
Dear Shawna,
I am the Primary chorister in the Ensign 1st Ward. I would love to teach your beautiful Christmas song to our primary this year. Could I please get a copy of the sheet music so we can begin learning the song? Thanks so much for sharing your amazing talent.
I was looking for a Chiristmas song and I saw your unavoidable title and played it in you tube. this is a great song and I really like to sing this song, do you have any lyrics and chords so I can do it for our Christmas eve.
Thank you,
Johnny
I am the choir director for my church and just love the beautiful song “Do you have Room”. Is there any way of getting the sheet music so we can also share this great message?
I would like to order a copy of the music for the Easter song “The Miracle.” How do I go about it?
Does anyone know if we are allowed to use the video for the song “Do You Have Room”? And or is there a place I can pay to use it. Thanks Paula Sorg
Paula,
Yes, you may use the video for any non-commercial purpose (such as in a Sunday class), but I can’t sell it to you. That would be in violation of the agreement I have with the artists who contributed to it. Hope that helps.
Shawna