Wonder and Ponder

We’ve heard it all, even before we were listening.  The Christmas story, we’ve heard the same song with a different tune, endlessly. It’s either familiar or astonishing.  Since familiarity is the enemy of our faith, may we continue to be re-astonished every time we consider the amazing story that changed the world.

Changed-the-world.

I’m drawn to the gospel of Luke that focuses more on Mary and the wonder-struck shepherds.  In the book of Matthew, the focus is more on Joseph and the star-gazing Magi.  Gathering the sacred pieces, I have so many questions.  And so many answers. It’s all about the wonder and the ponder . . .

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart ~ Luke two-nineteen.

It seems the first question came from the mother of Jesus, “How shall this be?”  And later, an encouraging visit to her older cousin Elisabeth who would say, “Blessed is she that believed.” Every time I read the story, I find something new in the old lines. I realize how God in His fatherly goodness gave these dear ladies each other to be able to understand and embrace the other’s miracle.  An unmarried teen and an over-the-ovary-hill woman gave birth. Entrusting the miraculous truth to these women of the Christmas story ~ astounding.

Think of it ~ we can’t really understand the Christmas story if we lose the art of ponder.  The word in the original language means to throw thoughts together, to wonder at a deep level.  Because she treasured up in her heart, kept safe in a holy scrapbook.  We can imagine there was so much she couldn’t understand as she birthed and nursed, nourished and taught her Son to walk and talk and grow to a Savior and treasured the mystery in her heart through the years.

It’s not easy to put aside the distractions of life and breathe in the Christmas of old, to make space to sit down with the words that we often just glance and go.  Amazing words that tell an amazing story. The beauty and splendor of the birth of Jesus is enough to make an angel gasp, a shepherd quake, and you and I to treasure up and ponder just how possible the impossible is because of a great God who foretold through every single prophecy to bring about the first advent.  And will again in the second.

So treasure up within the pages of the gospel and ponder and adore the “familiar” words in a Christmas hymn to take us to “twas the night”  ~  the holy night that changed our lives.

As this year comes to a close and another begins ~  thank you for your encouragement and faithful visits, Encouraging Women One Story at a Time.