I admit it. I’m a recovering Grinch. I dreaded the Christmas season through my mid-twenties. The fake cheer. False kindness. And, oh. So. Much. Greed.

Then I got married.

My wonderful wife taught me to see the beauty of Christmas all around. The hidden generosity. The good will. And, above all, to focus on the gift that was the birth of Jesus! And for me, one of the best ways to get into the Christmas spirit is through music.

These are my favorite songs (and versions) that always make me pause and reflect on the Incarnation and the Advent of our King.

1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

This roots of this song have been sung by Christians for more than 500 years. And, in the original Latin, it created an acrostic that translates to, “Tomorrow I will be there.” Very cool!