Mary Ponders

Every year on Christmas Morning, before we open presents, our family reads the Christmas story from Luke.  I have my husband or children read it because if I do, I cry. I know.  Shocker.  As I get older, the story of Christ’s birth is more real to me than ever.  My heart swells knowing God sacrificed His baby for my sins.

Kissing the face of God

Luke 2:4-20

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

The part that always gets me is “and Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

I love to share things.  I love to tell people when good things happen to me.  She just gave birth to the Son of God.  A bunch of shepherds came to see them in the middle of the night who were guided to their stable by angels.  She herself had been visited by an angel.  An angel had appeared to her husband.  Yet she held these tucked inside... to dwell on them.

I love the way The Message translation puts it: “Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.”

Micayla and I, a long time ago

I have three children.  My oldest is 17, my son is 16, and my youngest daughter is 9.  When my daughter, Micayla, was born, 17 years ago, after everyone had left that day and I was alone with her, I sat in the bed with my knees pulled up.  I laid Micayla between them and just stared at her. In awe.  I felt so blessed that God had let me have a part in creating her.  I picked her features apart.  She had my eyes, my husbands lips, my mothers chin...it amazed me how God masterfully blended our family portraits in her.  

Did Mary do that?  After the shepherds left and Joseph fell asleep, did she pull her knees to her chest and lay Jesus between them and feel so blessed that God let her have a part in creating Him?  Did she pick His features apart?  Did He have her lips?  Her mothers chin?  Did she wonder where certain features came from? Did she wonder if His eyes were like His heavenly Father’s?  Perhaps something that was tucked away in her heart was knowing the sole purpose of her son’s birth was for Him to die.  To die for her sins.

As she gazed at her son and stowed these things in her heart, she knew the last 9 months prophesies had been fulfilled.  And more were coming.  But this night...she treasured snuggling the downy face of God.