I love Christmastime so much I don’t want to let it go. So many things about this season make life a little sweeter and love a little louder. I want to take it with me into the snows of January and the rains of April and the sunburns of July. Mary did too.
In Luke chapter two Mary has completed the journey to Bethlehem riding nine months pregnant on a donkey. I could just stop there. Sh has given birth in a barn, wrapped her homeless baby and son of God in cloths, and laid him in a food trough for the animals.
And yet….
A star shone bright in the sky. Shepherds came running to see the new king, validating all that she had been through. Saying yes, an angel told us, “…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has ben born to you; he is Christ the Lord…” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV).
What do we do with that great news? We have two options. We can stand amazed and a little bewildered at such a truth for our lives, or we can ponder our God and the goodness he’s given us all the days of our life.
“and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19 NIV).
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19 NIV).
I mean after all the sweet girl had been through, Mary sat there and reflected not wanting to miss a moment– taking a mental snapshot of the ridiculous grace of God that she got to be part of the story.
Now it’s our turn.
The angels said that night was for all people. It was for you and me as much as it was for Mary. It’s our turn to sit silent with the Lord Jesus who has come into our lives. It is our time to turn all our sorrows and struggles into divine goodness with Jesus.
We get to treasure Jesus up and ponder all His goodness all year round. Praise the Lord!
It’s our moment to chose to live in thankfulness for our undeserved redemption and love from God. We get to live praising him for coming to bring us back to life and for the people he has given us to be a light of love til we can see him face to face.
I pray that every day of the year is like Christmas in our hearts. I hope we treasure up the sweet faces sitting at our tables today. Storing up all the joy of these special Christmas moments and thanking God for his amazing mercy and friendship. Joy to the world!
Merry Christmas sweet friends!
Andrea Chatelain 