Connecting Through Word | December 10, 2014
“Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.” Luke 2:19 NLT
It’s Christmas time, and as I read through Luke 2 again, recalling the birth story of Jesus, my heart is captivated for a moment by something I had never pondered before.
“That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,” they sang, “and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.”
When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them.” (Luke 2:8-20 NLT)
My eyes linger at the line, “Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.”
Sweet memories rush to the front of my mind and my heart swells. As a mom myself, I can just imagine all she was treasuring and thinking about, because I’ve known some of those feelings in my heart as well.
When Mary held her baby close the night the shepherds came, she knew she was holding something special. What a privilege it was to gaze upon the face of Jesus; everyone around her knew it and said so as well. It’s what she treasured in her heart and thought of.
I’ve known the feeling of holding a newborn baby in my arms. I’ve gazed for hours at the face of my little one, as if time meant nothing. Tiny toes and fingers I’ve counted amazed that each precious one was formed within my own body. I’ve been humbled by the honor of being called mother to such a precious life. Then, as the word spread of my own child’s birth, there were people who traveled many miles to see my newborn. I’ve been proud to show them the blessing God had given, and I’ve heard the buzz of voices around me in admiration of such a miracle and words of hope for the future.
I, too, like Mary, have treasured these things in my heart, and I think of them often. It’s been many years since I have given birth to my children, but each moment and each word of admiration thereafter has become a precious treasure, tucked away in my heart.
Moms, unlike Mary, we did not birth the Messiah born to save the world from sin, but that does not mean our children are not special. Like Jesus, each of our children was born to serve a purpose from God. Our job is to be like Mary and humbly seek God for His guidance as we, in turn, guide our children to fulfill their purpose. We will see our children struggle with the imperfection in this world, but there will also be many moments we can treasure in our hearts and think of often.