The Three “P’s” of Christmas
By
Elin Henderson
“For
there is born to you this day in the city of David
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke
2:11(NKJV)
We all know the twelve
days of Christmas but perhaps you aren’t aware of the three “P’s” of
Christmas! Praise, Ponder, and Proclaim. Three of the well-known
characters in the Christmas story found in Luke 2 bring these points to life.
The first “P” makes its
appearance through the angel of the Lord and the heavenly hosts who made the
great announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. “And suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying:
‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men’” (Luke
2:13-14)! They lit up the sky with praise and glory to the God on
high!
The second “P” comes to
life through our lowly shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
Stunned by the overwhelming angelic announcement and awestruck by the small
babe in the manger, who was God incarnate, they boldly set forth
to proclaim what they had heard. “Now, when they had seen Him, they
made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child” (Luke
2:17).
Our final “P” is found
hidden in the heart of a young woman, still reeling from the amazing
circumstances that have taken place in her life. “But Mary kept all these
things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke
2:19). She soaked it all up and began seriously contemplating what all
of this meant for her and for the world.
Have we been practicing
the three “P’s” of Christmas this year? Have we taken time
to praise Him like the angels for His wonderful gift of a Savior?
Have we been proclaiming this truth to the people who live around us?
Have we been pondering what this amazing gift of life means to us? As
we remember this incredible moment in history, may we not forget to
practice these powerful “P’s”!
GOING
DEEPER:
1. All three “P’s”
require time and reflection. Considering that today’s lifestyle is “go, go,
go,” how can you carve out the time to really practice these?
FURTHER READING:
Oakwood’s
missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as
church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to
fourteen-year-old Callie and eleven-year-old Elias.
