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Luke 2:19
Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
I took some quick snapshots today of several Christmas decorations at our house. Each of them has a significant memory attached. A departing gift to Diane from her music people at Holy Cross, Arlington. A Christmas tree adorned with ornaments more sentimental than valuable (though there are a few semi-valuable ones, like the Swarovski crystal star). Our family VBS project nativity set.
I’ve not often had the margins that allowed me to spend more time in reflection and meditation as I’ve had this year. Yesterday I read through a collection of Bonhoeffer’s Christmas poetry and meditations. I relished a poem on Grace and Truth offered by our Texas District President – even sharing it in my Christmas Day message at St. John.
I had the luxury of time and comfort to reflect in this manner. Mary did not. Time is the great equalizer. We all have same number of minutes in an hour, hours in a day, days in a week, etc. The wealthy have no more time than the poor. The foolish have no less than the wise. Margin falls differently, however, on different people at different times. Mary had little margin, I imagine. She had a child to care for and few conveniences to help. She had swaddling cloths. Nothing more is mentioned. In the midst of this, she took the time to meditate in her heart the things that had happened.
I notice that her meditation is mentioned by Luke after noting that the shepherds had visited the Christ child, and told her and Joseph all that had happened. Angel hosts singing praises to God. The announcement that the Savior had been born. The promise that the child would be found wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
Mary must have pondered the confirmation of the angels’ earlier messages to her and Joseph. This child is the Savior, Christ, the Lord. She must have pondered Jesus’ name, which means the Lord saves. She must have pondered the shepherds’ excitement and wonder. She kept these ponderings, thoughts, and meditations in her heart. Enclosed within her soul.
She would need these thoughts in years to come. Perhaps this was also a beautiful moment to ponder the amazing grace of God. In the moment. In the quiet. In the stable. In her heart.
I hope you had the opportunity to ponder the wonders of Christmas yesterday. And…Good news: Christmas lasts for 12 days. The celebration by church calendar timing runs until January 6, Epiphany Sunday, the Christmas of the Gentiles.
NOTE: I’ll be taking a break from Acts for these 12 days, pondering with Mary the meaning of the incarnation. Then, as is so appropriate to the season of Epiphany, I’ll pick back up with Acts after that time.
Merry Christmas, and Peaceful Christmas Ponderings!
David Bahn - Reflections 
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