"Pondered them in her heart"

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19

Each Christmas we hear the story of the birth of Jesus but this year the words from Luke 2:19 have stuck in my head. It is an amazing story of our Savior’s birth but when you think about his mother, Mary, it is even more amazing. Many bible scholars believe she was only 15-16 years old at the time of Jesus’ birth and she was not married to Joseph at the time of her pregnancy. Can you imagine what her life had been like for the past nine months? In Luke 1, Mary is visited by an angel and she is told she will give birth to a child and His name will be Jesus and He will be the Son of God. In Luke 1:38 Mary says, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.” Can you imagine the thoughts that were going through her head? She had been chosen by God to deliver His only Son into the world but she also knew the cost of being found pregnant and unmarried. What amazing faith she had for such a young person. I am sure she had worries but she simply said, I am the Lord’s servant and may your word to me be fulfilled. On the night of Jesus’ birth, Mary had made a long journey to Bethlehem and was preparing herself for the painful birth of a child. As the night progressed and Jesus was born, she witnessed the entire plan God had for her life. As I think more about Mary and the incredible story, I am always reminded that God chose Mary to be the earthly mother of His Only Son, but He had not made everything comfortable for her. She had traveled by donkey only to find no place to deliver her child. She had delivered her baby in what was most likely a cave and placed him in a feeding trough. Probably not exactly how she had imagined this event since the time of the angel’s visit. Mary had been chosen by God, at a young age, to not only give birth to the Son of God but to also be His earthly mother. She would care for his needs as a child, console him when he cried, and teach him. On the night of Jesus’ birth, as the events unfolded as the angel had told her, the bible says, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She had been chosen by God and was obedient to Him. We do not know of the many difficulties she experienced as she followed God’s direction for her life but we can learn from her faith. She had been given a difficult task but she was obedient and had faith that every detail had been carefully planned by God. As she saw the plan unfold, she treasured the experiences and pondered each in her heart.

The story of Mary and her obedience makes me question whether I have the same level of faith. If God gives me a task, a place to go, or a change in my life do I have enough faith to trust him and marvel as He works the plan out in my life. Or, will I doubt at the first sign of trouble or inconvenience? Would I give up if the plan did not go as I had imagined in my own head? I think the lesson I can learn from Mary is to simply be God’s servant and to be willing when He asks. I can also learn from Mary to treasure the events in my life that He leads and ponder them in my heart. As I think over my life, I can see how God’s hand was on my life as he pushed me toward some areas, protected me from many others, and placed me where He wants me. I should also treasure these miracles and ponder what He has done for me daily.

Chad