“Blessing Others”
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:39-45
One of my favorite childhood memories is making cherry tarts with my grandmother, Hazel O’Brien when I was around 4 years old. When my mother dropped me off at my grandmother’s home, she told my grandmother that I was having a bad day. I remember my grandmother asking me, “David, are you blue?” And I looked at my arms and said, “Grandma, I’m not blue.”
Then she said, “We’re going to make some cherry tarts.” She rolled out some dough and opened a large can of cherry pie filling. After the tarts finished baking, we sat down and ate some together. After that, I felt much better.
In Luke 1:39-45, we see how God enabled an elderly woman named Elizabeth to help a much younger woman named Mary during a frightening, yet joyful time in her life. Mary had just been told by the angel Gabriel that the Holy Spirit would enable her to conceive and give birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After that, Mary hurried off to the home of her cousin Elizabeth, near Bethlehem.
God was also doing amazing things in Elizabeth’s life. Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah were elderly and past the age of having children. However, the angel Gabriel had told them that they would have a child who would be known as John the Baptist.
Elizabeth provided a safe and loving place for Mary to come to terms with what the Lord was doing in her life. Elizabeth understood what it was like to have God transform her life. She was also a wise and gentle woman in whom Mary could confide. In fact, as soon as she saw Mary, she blessed her three times! No wonder Mary stayed with her for three months.
Elizabeth was an example to my grandmother, and to all of us, of how we can be a blessing to someone of a different generation. Especially at Christmas.
Christmas is an intergenerational celebration at GMPC. Our worship services and programs are all full of children, young adults, and older folks. God is giving us many opportunities to show love and care to younger people, just like Elizabeth did for Mary. And God is giving us many opportunities to show joy and kindness to older folks, just like Mary did for Elizabeth.
Your acts of love mean more to others than you know. Whenever I have cherry tarts or cherry pie, I remember how my grandmother blessed me when I was having a bad day 60 years ago. All of us can give a blessing to others that will be remembered for a lifetime.
In Christ,
Pastor David
UPCOMING CHRISTMAS EVENTS AT GMPC
Wednesday, December 20 (9:00 am) GMPC Preschool Christmas Chapel Service
Thursday, December 20 (9:00 am) GMPC Preschool Christmas Chapel Service
Friday, December 22 (5:00-7:00 pm) Cocoa, Cookies, Carols, and Critters
Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve:
9:00 am Traditional Worship Service
10:45 am Blended Worship Service
4:00 pm Children’s Bell Ringing Service
5:30 pm Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols
