Blessing
Four of the elderly ladies from the local parish prayer group were gathering their affairs before leaving the prayer corner of the sanctuary. Daniel, the organist, was in a hurry to get to Geneva where he teaches music at the conservatory there. He’d just finished playing several pieces during their meditation time.
Mme Mosimann is a tiny, Swiss-German women, only 94 years old. She caught hold of Daniel’s hand as he was saying his necessary good-byes, throwing in the obligatory “Merry Christmas” and “My best wishes for the New Year”. Extremely polite. But Mme Mosimann would not let go of his hand, clasping it in both of hers.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, “And may you have much joy and peace in the New Year. May God grant you good health and may he protect you and give you much success in all you do.”
I suddenly realized that Mme Mosimann was doing more than being polite to Daniel. She was blessing him. What I had thought was just a cultural tradition to be pronounced to acquaintances are, in truth, words meant to transform. I had just glimpsed a holy moment, where one aged woman took her words, and her God, seriously, and brought blessing upon Daniel.
May God give you a merry Christmas, my friends.
Mme Mosimann is a tiny, Swiss-German women, only 94 years old. She caught hold of Daniel’s hand as he was saying his necessary good-byes, throwing in the obligatory “Merry Christmas” and “My best wishes for the New Year”. Extremely polite. But Mme Mosimann would not let go of his hand, clasping it in both of hers.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, “And may you have much joy and peace in the New Year. May God grant you good health and may he protect you and give you much success in all you do.”
I suddenly realized that Mme Mosimann was doing more than being polite to Daniel. She was blessing him. What I had thought was just a cultural tradition to be pronounced to acquaintances are, in truth, words meant to transform. I had just glimpsed a holy moment, where one aged woman took her words, and her God, seriously, and brought blessing upon Daniel.
May God give you a merry Christmas, my friends.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
And to you my friend - may God continue to bless you, your family, and all that are blessed to come into contact with you and your ministry.
December 24th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Beautiful…
Sweet friend, may you find great encouragement and new passion for the work you have been called to do. May you feel the love and constant prayer that ascends on your behalf. May you know God in a deeper and richer way in this coming year.
You are loved.
December 25th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
May God hold you and your family in His hand. Merry Christmas.
December 25th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Years ago we were in San Felipe, Mexico, building a house for a 93 year old lady named Esperanza. Each day she would come around and bless each person on the building team. I have no idea what she said over me, but I sure felt like I’d been blessed! Can’t explain it, but I definitely experienced it.