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What Christmas Means To Become

One of my dear sisters reached out to ask if I had written anything for Christmas. Honestly, I had not thought about writing partly due to the sheer busyness of publishing a fictional novel, becoming an entrepreneur and of course, the limitations of a global pandemic. Who hasn't been affected? My dear sister's request encouraged me to write something peculiar about Christmas that we often don't think about. Not only did she love this writeup, I was once again reminded of why I love Christmas as well as why this Season is certainly beyond the glittery lights and boxes of gifts.   

Read below and I hope you're encouraged.

Thousands of years ago, before the streets lined with Christmas trees and lights, garlands and carols, there, in the heart of a small temple in Jerusalem, an old man confirmed the fulfillment of a Promise once told to him in the secret. In the same temple, an old woman witnessed this Promise and told those around her. Though there weren’t fireworks or clanking cymbals to celebrate their announcements, these two hearts jubilated at the realization that a Promise once told had now BECOME.


Long before this Promise was carried into the temple, Bible tells us that the old woman prayed and praised daily in the temple. Who were they? Simeon and prophetess Anna.


Old and frail, widowed and poor, not once did Anna doubt God’s ability to fulfil what He had promised. Simeon, old, righteous and devout, held onto every word the Holy Spirit had spoken to him. What was promised, you ask? That his eyes, old as they may become, will see the Messiah, the Savior of the world! How cool is that?


Simeon waited a mighty long time; Anna waited even longer. Bible tells us that she was married (probably at a young age of 16) for only seven years before her husband died and she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four; she never left the temple but stayed there every single day, worshipping God with fasting and prayer, waiting for something Special.


T’was the Holy Spirit who led Simeon to the temple on the special day when he was to BECOME the forerunner, the first person to call the Child, Messiah, the Savior of the world. Anna not only witness Simeon’s declaration, but she also confirmed this testimony to everyone in the temple. You may wonder, how could she have known Simeon was speaking truth? Remember, she served God day and night, she praised and prayed, essentially lived a life dedicated to BECOMING a witness for Christmas. So the Holy Spirit must have shared this secret with her as well.


Long before this Season was about Santa Claus and Rudolph the reindeer, mistletoes and glitters, Christmas delights were about BECOMING a witness to the arrival of the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Through patience, Simeon and Anna were mighty persevering until he held God’s Promise in his hands and she praised God for the Child promised.


Dear friends and family, just as the Simeon and Anna propagated the Good News that the Savior of the world had arrived, let us join them in spreading this News of Joy, Patience, and Peace to those around us during this Season.


Let’s be reminded that Christmas is beyond the decorated pine trees, the twinkling lights, the carols, the foods, the sweaters—ugly or pretty, the gifts, etc. While these are jolly and lovely, what makes Christmas most special is knowing that we have BECOME an integral branch in the family-tree of witnesses called to proclaim the arrival of our Messiah, the Savior of the world. Therefore, necessity is laid on us to continue our family's tradition, true to its cause.


Hear ye! Hear ye!! Merry Christmas.


Shalom 


By Latunde Bolarinwa 24 Jun, 2021
Isn’t it interesting that when you conduct a google search for list of women who struggled with depression or mental illness in the Bible, the list usually consists of men and perhaps one or two women at most. Some might argue it’s because the Bible was mostly patriarchal; however, pages of Scripture are littered with stories of women…strong women who at one point in their lives endured the strains of a mental illness, whether short or long-lived. Mental Health is such a vital aspect of humanity. What makes us human isn’t merely our physical health and spiritual health. Without our mental health, we are incomplete. So it baffles me that we rarely speak about this aspect of our lives. What’s even more shocking is the stigma we (humans) place on those who struggle with an ill-health in the mental aspect of their humanity. Why is that? As I’ve always asked, if someone is diagnosed with cancer or diabetes, or high blood pressure or tooth cavity, or congestive heart failure, or found in spiritual ill-health such as lying, stealing, fornication, adultery, etc., do we automatically stigmatize those with these types of illnesses? Or do we empathize with and encourage them to seek appropriate treatment? I think most of us fall into the latter category. In the same token, those struggling with mental ill-health deserve such empathy rather than stigmatization. While the Bible describes many individuals dealing with all manners of mental illness, I want to share a few women and their plights: From the first few pages of the Bible, we read about the first family, their dysfunctions and shortcomings. Eve certainly must have endured Major Depression when her first son murdered her second son in cold blood. Then to watch that same first son being cursed and made a wanderer on earth (essentially becoming homeless, aimless and hopeless)! Many of us may not consider what Eve must have endured and though the Bible does not explicitly explain this either, we get a glimpse from the meaning of the name of another son she birthed: Seth means, “God has granted another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” What a trauma! (Genesis chapter 4). We don’t know Noah’s wife’s name but we are familiar with the experience their family endured—worldwide, colossal wipeout! Imagine being the wife of a man that received the task to build a world class ark/ship/boat/yacht/submarine or whatever you want to call it! Once again, I can only imagine. (Genesis chapter 6, 7,8,9) Barrenness drove Sarai, Rachel and Hannah to pull extreme stunts. Sarai going as far as upgrading her servant’s status to co-wife and imagine what happened when the said servant became pregnant by her husband, the same man she’d been having sex with for decades without success! (Genesis 16). Similarly, Hannah watched her husband impregnant her co-wife over and again while she (the most loved) remained infertile. Bible records in 1 Samuel 1: 10 that “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.” The impact of such trauma in Hannah’s life was evident by priest Eli’s accusation ( 1 Samuel 1: 14). How can I conclude this writeup without the mention of Mary, the mother of Jesus! The horror to watch your son suspended in the air by several inches of nails in his hands and feet! Yes, she knew He was the Savior, she knew He was special, unlike the rest of her children. Still, no mother is ever prepared for such event! Again, the Bible does not discuss her mental state during and after these dark moments in the history of the world but we can only imagine that Mary stayed in bed most of those three days after Jesus had died, crying until tears dried from her eyes. The emotional toll it must have taken even long after Jesus ascended to heaven. Ever ponder about that? Amazingly, the stories of these women did not end in sorry or depression or sadness. That’s the beauty; knowing that God loves us and sees whatever we are going through. That’s why Bible verses such as Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11 have a special hold on my heart. Each woman identified in this article laughed in the end: Eve gave birth to so more sons and daughters. Noah’s wife and her family survived the colossal wipeout and set their feet, once again, on dry earth! Sarai (later called Sarah) gave birth to her own child, a son for her husband! Rachel whom Jacob loved very much gave birth to two children as well! Hannah of course gave birth to Samuel, a son better than ten sons! Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus also had other sons and forever known as The Mother of our Savior! Are you a woman reading this piece and wondering why you’re going through whatever it is you’re going through, let me encourage you with this: I am on this same ship with you. You might be in the deeper end of the struggle just as I once was, and I’ll be honest, it was really dark and scary. You feel alone, lost, anxious with no ability to pray. Remember how Hannah was described? In deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed onto the Lord; yet literally, no words proceeded from her lips. Here’s my step by step guide to come out of that deep end: If in a crisis, Text “NAMI” to 741741 Call/Text: (202) 304-8793 or Email: olatundebola2017@yahoo.com Schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor Request for PHQ9 assessment Request at least two weeks or few days wellness time-off from work Call National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression or 1-800- 950 - NAMI (6264) Find a Support Person or Group to confidentially speak about the situation. Pray: simply dialogue with God. The only formula for praying is the Lord’s Prayer and its as simple as talking to a friend. There’s no need for perfection during this dialogue. Shalom
By Latunde Bolarinwa 09 May, 2021
Motherhood isn’t just a role, it’s a destiny that starts the moment your heart, without warning, connects with another heart—usually a tiny beating heart that flutters in your stomach. For mothers who begin this destiny in-utero, your heart sings a different tune towards this unknown being slowing invading your internals. For most, it’s a happy tune, an indescribable happiness mixed with mild anxiety over the safety of this invader. Day after day, week and after week, you begin to realize that it’s your destiny to provide a safe haven for this foreigner until its arrival into this cruel world. For mothers who begin this destiny ex-utero, you’re equally preparing for a role unlike any other. Your heart sings differently than ever before, a mixture of happiness and anxiety over acceptance, connection and so much more. There’s a constant silent question in the back of every mother’s head: do I have what it takes to raise this individual? This isn’t a question of financial competencies, though that too is important. This question is at the very core, a question of fulfilling her destiny of Motherhood.
By Latunde Onabajo 03 May, 2021
By design, the human body has limitations, even if at its healthiest. For example, we can only bend our arms so far before snapping the bones into two. Or the fact that the muscles of the feet are designed to grow tired after long hours of walk/running or general activities. These aren’t necessarily negative limitations; they simply the body’s way of protecting itself from breaking down to beyond repair.
By Latunde Onabajo 25 Feb, 2021
“Then He said to the woman, ‘I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16 NLT)
By Latunde Onabajo 16 Feb, 2021
Have you ever experienced orgasm?
By Latunde Onabajo 26 Jan, 2021
Genesis 2: 16-17 ; Genesis 3: 1-24
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