“Our Sweetest Gift” -The Inspiration

Looking up in prayer

 

Before I could be either of these people, I had to be her…

 

 

 

 

I always wrote songs. I only started sharing them when I started playing guitar at age 9. And I always wanted to do something good with the fame I was sure to garner…

But my optimism and idealism got squashed along the way by the music industry and the sexualization of female artists. I got jaded and thought I had to be sexy to succeed. It does work for many female artists after all! I became a self-assured hippy turned feminist singer! Some song titles I wrote in my college days included “Queen of My Mind” and “Homework” (as in let’s go study some anatomy, Boy!) and “Girl Scout Game” (I’ll let you guess on that one!)

I did things I am NOT proud of and left me feeling empty. I got a stalker for my efforts which ended in court cases- and I also eventually burned out my precious vocal cords from bad life choices and ignorance about vocal health!

My fiancé broke up with me right after I got vocal nodes and I had to cancel all my gigs with Centerpiece, the band I led at the time. What a “nice guy”! I thought my life was over- or at least my career. I was never suicidal, but I was VERY low.

What. does this all have to do with the song, you ask?

I always Loved Christmas!

And I Still do!

But there was a long stretch of my life when it was all about family, gifts and trees- not that I don’t still love those things… but I didn’t understand who Jesus was or who he would be in his adulthood… and how that would affect my life and eternity!

“Our Sweetest Gift”  brings together the classic beauty of a Christmas song with orchestra and angels singing but also with the truth of who Jesus comes to be and what he came to do- save souls, redeem broken lives, give hope and peace and truth.

Christmas is why I am not alone anymore in a crowded bar.

 ^“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
                                                                          – Deuteronomy 31:8

After that devastating episode with losing both my voice and my fiancé at the same time, I started to look at the Bible. I started to see that real friends who followed Jesus loved me even if I didn’t have a gig for them and couldn’t sing a note!

I had to wrestle with the Word and my own faith- but I came to know the power of God and rejoice! I  was baptized January 6th, 1991. I left my old life and walked toward the light, resolutely down that narrow road- no turning back!

So Christmas means SOOO much more to me now! And at last I am releasing my first ever Christmas single!

When I sing with my a cappella Caroling Band, The Harmony Jewels- yes we are spreading Christmas cheer, but also the joy of Jesus coming to give us hope in this hurting world!

Here is a clip from the video production lip sync- not perfect… but only you insiders get to see the process! “Our Sweetest Gift” Snippet

Here are the lyrics: c. Julie Kinscheck 2024