Mary Pondered - What Do You Ponder?

It is always interesting to hear people discuss Christmas. Some people are very excited about this special holiday while others can't wait until it is over. For some, Christmas is filled with fond memories of their childhood and that is a good thing. But, when you think about Christmas, what is it that comes to mind. I like to visualize the stories in the Bible and as I think of the passage in Luke 2 telling us of the shepherds coming to the manger to find Mary there holding the Christ child, I often wonder what must have been going through her mind. Luke uses an interesting word when he says that she pondered these things in her heart. Can't you just see this young lady who has just given birth to the very Son of God incarnate, as she caresses Him close and deeply considers what lies ahead for Him. Though we don't know for sure where her thoughts took her, we can be somewhat confident that she considered the fact that He would be thought bad of and scoffed at because His mother was not married when he was born. No mother likes the idea of her child being the target of ridicule and scorn. I am quite sure she also began to contemplate His fate. As God's only begotten Son, He came to this world with a purpose and that was to die for the sins of the whole world. We could go on and think of many other possibilities, but what is more important today is, what do you think about at Christmas time? Have you been swept up in the traditions of the season or do you allow you heart to take over and see the Truth of the Christ Child? Take a moment and allow the precious Holy Spirit to fill your heart and mind with the joys of Christmas.