Spiritual Thought
An excerpt from A Christ Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman.
“As the season approaches there are so many meaningful details that must be taken care of and arrangements to be made. Part of the holiday preparation includes pondering moments-every mother/woman wants every part of Christmas to be just right. We agonize over the perfect gifts; we contemplate how to create lasting memories; and we long for meaningful celebrations. These reflective moments are a familiar part of Christmas…..
At the very end of the account of the first Christmas night found in Luke 2 there is one scripture that tugs on my heartstrings. After the events of the evening died down and the parade of visitors had left the stable “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Mary spent the first Christmas doing what every mother/woman does – she pondered.
I imagine Mary’s heart was full to almost bursting on that night. Thoughts of wonder, contentment, and gratitude must have warmed her heart-celebration for the moment, anticipation for what lay ahead. The blessing. The burden. The responsibility. The gift.”
This next week with Christmas approaching take a moment to read Luke 1:26-56 and Luke 2:5-7, 19. Read about Mary. Considered what she might have been pondering. Learn about her character and what was important to her. I know as I have done this, I have begun to pay closer attention to what I am thinking/pondering in my quiet moments. Spending a little more time watching and listening and just taking things in. Mary is an amazing figure of the Christmas season and a wonderful example of a righteous daughter of our Heavenly Father. This Christmas season Mary reminds us that we need to find a moment to ponder the events of that sacred night in Bethlehem and the place it hold in our hearts and lives.