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