Holiday blessings
This holiday season, we’re reflecting on how being together with others can have a positive impact on our lives.
We’re looking at various stories from the birth of Jesus and how the act of people coming together during that time brought great blessings- blessings that can be experienced in our own lives as well. This week, we’re focusing on how spending time with those who are both older and younger than us can be a source of blessing.
At many holiday gatherings, the age gap between generations is sometimes seen as a source of tension. Younger people may feel that older generations don’t understand them, while older people might view younger generations as disrespectful or lazy. But when we come together across generations, there’s so much we can learn from one another.
In Luke 2, we see a beautiful example of this in the story of Mary, Joseph, and Simeon. The young couple, Mary and Joseph, were diligently following Jewish law, ensuring that baby Jesus did all the things required of a Jewish child. Meanwhile, an older man named Simeon, described as righteous and devout, had been promised by God that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. (Luke 2:2526). God led Simeon to the temple at the same time that Mary, Joseph and Jesus arrived. All of them came together to do what needed to be done-and in the process, each of them was blessed.
Mary and Joseph’s devotion was likely shaped by the wisdom of older people in their lives, while Simeon found joy and fulfillment in witnessing God’s promise fulfilled and in seeing the young family so faithfully following God. This beautiful interaction between generations highlights the blessings that flow when we come together, regardless of age.
During the holidays, as we come together to celebrate Jesus, we, too, can experience similar blessings. Younger generations can learn lessons that will serve them for a lifetime, while older generations can find fulfillment in passing down their wisdom. When we spend the holidays together, blessings flow.
