A Pondering Perspective

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 (ESV)

A festive tree. Twinkling lights. Hot cocoa. Everything screams cozy this Christmas season.

However, behind the scenes, we’ve scrambled to find gifts on lists, top off our decorations from last year, and strain our brains as we assess the events piled up on the calendar. The weeks leading up to Christmas have nearly bowled us over with stress and strain, grief and uncertainty. Woven within the wonder of caroling and cookie decorating, the pace of it all has threatened to knot us up and choke the life out of what this season truly offers. There’s hardly any room for a time to sit still and be.

Or, maybe this holiday season brought up forbidden emotions of loss, loneliness and feeling forgotten. You’ve tried to escape them this year, but in the face of festivities, there seems to be nothing but time to process what you’ve experienced.

Even after the chaos of Christmas Day has passed, our weary hearts need a rest and a perspective shift.

So, travel back in time with me. After miles on the back of a donkey and a city out of stock on accommodations. After a manger and a baby. Gifts and worship presented at the tiny feet of the infant Christ, awestruck, and holy songs sung by angels.

Now, it is calm. A man, a woman and a child. Above their heads, the sky winks with a night wrapped in soft, quiet, starry wonder. Quietly lying beside her sleeping boy, Mary takes in his every feature. With a few moments of peace to reflect, she remembers the journey …

Gabriel appearing to her with a nation’s long-awaited news, how surprised and terrified she had been! The Savior, knitted in her womb. This alone was enough to overwhelm, but how she endured the looks and whispers of Nazareth’s busybodies, who knew she was betrothed yet bore a belly. Unheard of. Unspeakable. The angel of the Lord told her not to be afraid, that the Almighty God found favor in her unwavering and innocent faith. He knew she would be the one to carry His Son, to raise the man who would raise the dead.

So, she took hold of her faith, followed her fiancé Joseph to a tiny town and welcomed the world’s Light in the darkest of night.

Here Mary rested, pondering all that had transpired.

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What a delight to be over at Proverbs 31 today bringing us back in time to make room for a little pondering in our hearts. Will you join me there?