“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
— Psalm 126:6 KJV

Crack open a berry and you will likely find a seed — or more.

Some have said that holly grew around Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to hide them from Herod, and that the holly berry turned from white to red to signify the blood of Jesus when the time came for Him to lay down His life.

It is a lovely story, and it provides thought-food for a beautiful decoration.

Berries of many kinds are tasty treats, but they also contain the seeds of other trees and bushes. The number of seeds in a single berry is overwhelmed by the number of berries, branches, and trees that may come from one seed.

Mary came weeping to Jerusalem, carrying precious seed. That Seed would eventually fall into the ground and die in order to bring forth much fruit. Then, He would plant His seed of life in our hearts.

S is for special.
The seed is special in and of itself, even if nothing else comes of it. It has a beauty that defies and transforms the crude circumstances of the Savior’s birth.

E is for expectation.
He who has come to earth also comes to our hearts with the genius of unlimited possibility. He comes to expand us, our influence, and the meaning of our lives.

E is for elegance.
That which is simple is also complex in its intricate design. A babe in a manger, a star in the heavens, and sheep in the fields are poignant reminders of the elegance of simplicity, illustrated in the beauty of a tiny berry.

D is for determinate destiny.
We have many twists and turns on the road, but we also have a destination prepared for our choice. God will get us there because the DNA of our hearts defines our true character. The DNA of Jesus was God’s DNA, and He has planted in us the seeds of godly character.

S is for sanctification.
It comes as we give ourselves over to our highest and truest purpose, as the Son of God did. It is the only way to live — and Christmas is a great time to do it.

The seed may be small. The tears may be real. The waiting may be long.

But the promise remains:

Those who go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.