Today’s post, “Carol’s Gems: Topaz and Citrine – Harvesting Sunshine,” is a monthly series on birthstones from one of my favorite blogger friends, Carol Peterson. Carol is a writer with a heart for encouragement, sharing parables of faith on her blog From Carol’s Quill and making learning exciting in Fun with Finance and other teacher resource books.

Every month has a birthstone. The birthstones for the month of November are:

Yellow Topaz

and

Citrine

And they both remind me of Jesus.

A Gift From The Sun

Both of these golden gemstones are the color of sunshine. Yellow topaz
is naturally occurring; yet rare. Golden citrine—quartz—is also rare
in its natural state. Most commercial citrine today started out as
purple quartz (amethyst) or smoky quartz and was turned golden by
applying heat.

Ancient Egyptians believed that natural yellow topaz got its color
literally from the sun; or rather from the rays of the sun god, Ra.
Romans similarly affiliated topaz with Jupiter—who was the Roman god
of the sun.

Ecclesiastes tells us though that there is nothing new under the sun.
In other words, there is nothing new down here on earth. Above the
sun, in heaven, is another story because above the sun—as well as in
our hearts—is where Jesus resides. Jesus is not the sun god. He is the
Son of God.

Symbolism

Topaz is a symbol of wisdom, friendship, love, honesty, faithfulness,
tenderness and purity. Sound anything like the fruit of the Spirit?

Citrine is said to bring the wearer health, hope, energy and warmth.
In ancient times, citrine was worn as protection against snakes and
evil thoughts. Instead of pasting together a dozen fig leaves, Adam
and Eve should have encased themselves in citrine!

A gift of citrine is symbolic of hope and strength. Jesus is our only
hope of heaven and our sure strength for all trials.

Harvest

More than any other birthstone, yellow topaz and citrine represent
their month—at least for the Northern Hemisphere. Both gemstones are
the color of harvest—the color of leaves after the first frost-cold
night; of persimmon cookies, pumpkin pie and butternut squash. Both
stones capture the warm glow of autumn and bring sunshine to the first
days of the long winter to come.

As a reminder of harvest, yellow topaz and citrine point to the
eternal harvest Jesus will begin when he returns. That harvest of
souls. The one you and I are so eager to be part of.

Happy birthday to everyone born in November.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank you for seasons. Thank you for the
reminder of the warmth of summer and the coolness of autumn. Thank you
for harvest time on earth that reminds us that those of us who call
upon your name are assured of the eternal harvest to come. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Do you own any yellow topaz or citrine? Want some?