Lesson 156: With Healing in His Wings

Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas

With Healing in His Wings

As I traveled from Cleveland, Tennessee, to offer a presentation in Blairsville, Georgia, I began listening to the radio. Nothing appealed to me, so I went to the AM band and began scanning. It was then that the radio stopped on its own and the most astonishing voice of an angel came across the waves singing the old Christmas classic, Hark, The Herald Angels Sing. But as I listened to her voice without accompaniment, I noted the words were of the original version written in 1739 by Charles Wesley. Her soprano voice soothed my soul as she sang, “Glory to the King of kings; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” She went on to the third stanza and offered the following with such joy and peace that I felt I was listening to an angel’s voice:

Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.

All of a sudden she stopped singing and began sobbing. It dawned on me that this was a live rendition and that she was singing without any music other that that from her soul. The DJ asked her if she was all right and through sobs of joy she answered him in the following manner:

“You ask me if I am all right. Well sir, I am better than all right; I am saved by the grace of a child born in a manger. I am redeemed by the love of God and rejoice in the knowledge that His kindness has blessed me. There was a time though, after the accident, that I could not say this. In fact, when I was told that I would be confined to this wheelchair for the rest of my life, I became bitter, filled with pity and negative thoughts. My family could not stand to be near me, my friends avoided me and my spirit strayed from me. But unknown to me, the Prince of Peace stayed by my side.

“I had been a promising singer and was filled with ambitious to follow my dream. I became involved with things that led me astray from my church roots and I found myself out of God’s will. I chose a different path. It turned out to be one of self-destruction, yet as strange as it sounds, became my saving grace.

“I vividly remember the first Christmas after my accident. I was listening to some Christmas carols that my children had given me. My daughter and son asked me to sing along. At first I said no, but when Hark The Herald Angels began playing as an instrumental, I felt the inescapable urge to sing along. The words began to flow over my being, my spirit awakened, and the tears of sorrow flowed, as I continued to sing. ‘Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconciled.’ Words that opened my bleeding heart continued: ‘Hail the incarnate deity.’ But it was the third stanza that made me remember, realize, rejoice and begin shouting praises for my infirmity:

Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings. Mild He lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth.

“He brings LIGHT and LIFE to all with healing in HIS wings. I trembled, I shook, and I cried out for forgiveness, as my children embraced me. I asked for mercy, I asked for peace for my soul and to be reconciled with HIS love. I asked to be reinstated in His love. And like thunder shaking the mighty mountains, I heard a voice proclaim that He had never abandoned me, but had carried me in His loving arms through my trials.

“That 1st Christmas after my misfortune, I realized that though my legs were gone, God would always carry me and that my voice must continue to sing HIS praise. So you see, I am better than all right; I am reborn and it is all because of God’s gift at Christmas. It is a gift that keeps on giving and I am so thankful for this wheelchair. I know that He has risen with healing in His wings. I am healed of spirit and have perfect peace. My voice is my gift to the Christ child for HIS gift to me.”

For a moment, I was fascinated by her story and felt a movement within my spirit. Then the tears began to fall. I pulled over by the side of the road and cried not in sympathy for her but rejoicing in her testimony. I said a prayer and promised that upon my return home, I would research the original words to the song that had changed her life and reflect upon them. Not only have I done so this day but have decided to digest each Christmas Carol with a renewed joy and peace to honor our Christ child.

Will you not listen with a rejoicing heart to the words of the carols of old? Won’t you accept the gift of peace this season and let this day and everyday be one where you are sheltered under the healing in His wings? Wishing you a Christ filled Christmas, I remain protected and healed by His wings, the Old General.

Note: The Christmas story is told in Luke 1:1-19. May you share it with your children and listen to the angels proclaim: ‘13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Hark, how all the welkin rings, “Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say, “Christ the Lord is born to-day!”

Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d, Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear, Jesus! Our Immanuel here!

Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace! Hail, the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild He lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display thy saving power, Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface; Stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the life, the inner Man:
O! to all thyself impart, Form’d in each believing heart.