Tomorrow

Yesterday we went to see ‘Annie’. It really was an excellent production. We knew some of the children who all sung and acted really well. Flo was particularly wonderful as Annie… It’s a great story about the little orphan Annie in 1930s New York. When Annie is down on her luck she sings ‘Tomorrow’.

The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There’ll be sun!

Just thinkin’ about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
‘Til there’s none!

It’s a song of hope. Annie’s determined to find a better life than life in the orphanage with the cruel Miss Hannigan. She sets out to look for the parents that had left her as a  baby, full of positivity and hope, However bad today is, tomorrow will be good!

The Christmas story is a story of hope. What starts as what seems to be problems and difficulties – an unexpected pregnancy, a long journey, a king killing babies, comes alongside promises of hope, that however bad today is there will be a good tomorrow.

It’s a song of peace. Because of Annie’s positivity and hope there is a calmness about her that doesn’t get worried or upset. Annie has a calming influence on everyone – from the girls in the orphanage, to the rich billionaire Oliver Warbucks who finally adopts her.

The Christmas story is a story of peace. Angels declare peace to the shepherds, who see the Christ-child born to be the Prince of Peace as a baby lying in a manger… the Christ-man who teaches and lives peace, saying, ‘My peace I leave you…’

When I’m stuck with a day
That’s grey,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And grin,
And say,

The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
‘Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You’re always a day away!

It’s a song of joy. However sad the story is – an abandoned baby, the cruelty of the orphanage, scheming self-centred characters… Annie remains cheerful and upbeat – and as a result she makes those around her – and the audience – smile.

The Christmas story is a story of joy, of a baby born, that’s ‘good news of great joy for everybody’, of light in darkness, of Emmanuel, God with us, that wrongs will be put right. It’s an emotionally secure response to hope.

It’s a song of love. The loveable and loving Annie eventually finds a home with Oliver Warbucks – who is changed by love as he discovers that love is more important that his money and importance  

The Christmas story is a story of love, of a loving family, a loving God with a loving purpose, of a baby who grew up to be a man who taught us and empowered us to love God and to love our neighbour.