Retaining The Childlike Wonder Of Christmas Series

A little girl came home from Sunday school waving a paper for her mother to see. “Look Mommy,” she exclaimed, “Teacher says I drew the most unusual Christmas picture she ever saw!”

Her mother took one look and had to agree with the teacher. Hoping her daughter could explain her creation, the mother asked, “Why are all these people riding in the back of an airplane?”

“Well, Mommy, that's the flight into Egypt.”

Accepting that, mother asked another question: “Who is this mean-looking man in the front?”

Her daughter answered quickly and knowingly: “That's Pontius, the Pilot.”

Looking at the picture even more closely, the mother said, “I see you have Mary and Joseph and the baby. But who is this large man sitting behind Mary?”

“Can't you tell?” the little girl asked, beginning to shake her head in disappointment. “That's Round John Virgin.” (John Beukema, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; www.PreachingToday. com)

Children have such a unique view of Christmas, but then so do the elderly.

Before Billy Graham passed into glory, Newsweek published an article on the aging Billy Graham. In that article, One of Dr. Graham's daughters, Anne Graham-Lotz, recounted a conversation with her father on the subject of aging. “All my life, I've been taught how to die,” Billy told her, “but no one ever taught me how to grow old.”

She replied, “Well, Daddy, you are now teaching all of us” (Jon Meacham, "Pilgrim's Progress," Newsweek, 8-14-06, p. 38; www.PreachingToday.com).

That’s the question I want us to explore this morning: How do we grow old? Despite the pain that life can bring, despite the disappointments, despite the trouble we experience along the way, how do we grow old gracefully? How do we grow old without getting cynical and jaded? How do we grow old and still retain the joy and wonder of a child at Christmas?

This an important question whether you are nine or ninety, because all of us are growing old; all of us face disappointments and pain which can rob us of our joy at any age.

So how do we grow old without losing that joy? Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Luke 2, Luke 2, where we see how a 103-year-old-widow did it, who witnessed that first Christmas.

Luke 2:36-37a And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. (ESV)

Or quite possibly, she was a widow for 84 years! The original Greek will allow both translations. One commentator suggested that if she had married at the earliest marriageable age, 12 years, lived 7 years with her husband, and then been a widow for 84 years, she could not be less than 103 years old at this time! (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown)

Here is a woman that has experienced a long life with plenty of pain and disappointment. She had no family to take care of her. And in that day, widows did not have an easy time of it. They were often neglected and exploited, despite the requirements of the Old Testament Law (Exodus 22:22).

Even so, there is no evidence whatsoever that this particular widow in the temple ever grumbled or whined about it. In fact, her name itself, Anna, means “grace,” which I believe describes her character and her demeanor. Anna was not a cranky old woman full of bitterness over a lifetime of mistreatment. No. She was a woman full of grace!

The fact is Anna did not complain. And believe you me at 103 years old she could have had a lot to complain about, but she didn’t. And neither should you. If you want to grow old gracefully like Anna, then…

QUIT COMPLAINING.

Stop moaning and whining about your circumstances.

When Jesus came to her home in Luke 10 (vs.38-42), Martha complained about all the work she had to do while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, just enjoying His company.

Mayo Mathers confesses that she’s like Martha at Christmastime. She says that hosting parties, cooking up delicious buffets, and shopping for gifts brings out the “Martha” in her. She had never given this much thought until she attended her church's annual Christmas pageant several years ago (2004). In an article for Kyria.com, an on-line resource for Christian women, she writes of her breakthrough moment:

As she sat in the candlelit sanctuary absentmindedly listening to the peaceful strains of "Silent Night," she wrestled mentally with a list of things to be done. When the congregation stood to sing carols, she says, “My lips moved unconsciously to the words while my brain mulled over various menus for our annual Christmas Eve buffet.”