This morning was wonderful. I got up early, while everyone else was sleeping, put on some worship music, sat down with my bible in front of the Christmas tree, and enjoyed a steaming hot cup of tea.

I was reading the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2 and came upon a phrase that has seemed to always just kinda resonate with me and draw me in. The shepherds had come and found Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus laying in the manger. They left telling everyone they met what the angels had said about the child. And all who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Then in verse 19 it says this “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” 

I’m not exactly sure why this verse always seems to seize my heart and my attention. Maybe it’s the stark contrast between the quietness of her heart and all the excitement and joyful celebration that is surrounding her. The earlier part of the chapter is full of heavenly angel choirs singing and proclaiming. But here, in this tiny & even easily overlooked verse Mary is taking a moment for herself. She is remembering. Her mind is probably replaying the events that began this incredible journey.  She’s remembering the words first said to her by the angel Gabriel. “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you. She’s remembering the fear that accompanied the greeting. And then she’s replaying the conversation that followed. “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.” She’s remembering the questions she had. “But how can this be? I’ve never slept with a man.” And then she’s recalling, with a deep sense of thankfulness and perhaps a smile spreading across her face of the words of the angel answering, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.” 

There’s something about remembering, about looking back and acknowledging that takes a simple moment and makes it almost holy. I can’t help but think that as she was treasuring up these things and pondering them in her heart that she was filled with an overwhelming sense of God’s faithfulness to her. That she was able to acknowledge that without Him guiding her, without His support, she never would’ve made it through all the stares, the pointing and the conversations that took place behind her back about her being with child and without a husband.

Remembering is good. It’s why at Christmas time we reread the story of baby Jesus being born. Most of us have probably read Luke chapter 2 many times. It’s not that we don’t know, it’s that we need to be reminded. As humans we have a tendency to do that. It’s important to stop, to quiet ourselves and to reflect.

For me, journaling is a great way to do this. I can look back over last year and read about the things that were heavy on my heart, the joys & blessings that filled my life and all the amazing ways that God has answered my prayers. Writing it down cements it in my mind and my heart.

This morning I took a moment for myself. I looked back over my journal from this past year and I was able to see so many ways that God worked out his grace and faithfulness in my heart and life. I was able to see the fears & the questions I had, much like Mary. But I was also able to see the ways that God comforted and guided me through those times. This past year has been full of many things. Like so many, this past year has had moments of hurt, confusion, pain and loss. But one thing that has remained through it all. God’s love. His love for me. His love for this world. A world he came to in the form of a baby boy so many years ago. And so I echo the words of my Savior’s mother that were said so long ago and yet reveal my heart still today, “I am the Lord’s servant. May His word to me be fulfilled.”

Mary’s excitement matches mine this year. Because although our experiences do not exactly match each other in detail, they match entirely in His love for us. His blessings and favor on us, they are the same. So as Mary said, “I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one look at me, and look what happened–I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.”

May his mercy flow in waves over you this Christmas season and all year long. Merry Christmas!