It's time to put away the stockings. Recycle the Christmas tree. Pack away the ornaments. Freeze the turkey leftovers. Turn the house back to its semi-normal self. Ah, Christmas is over for another year.
On Christmas Eve, as my brother read Luke 2, the Christmas story, something stuck out to me. The birth of Christ, what we celebrate on CHRIST-mas, was a crazy time, a hectic time. There was a census, a long, bumpy journey on a donkey, an overcrowded city, a filthy stable, a painful labour, loud animals, a crying baby, visits from shepherds and, a few years later, wise men. It wasn't exactly calm and peaceful. But what did Mary do during this time and after it?
On Christmas Eve, as my brother read Luke 2, the Christmas story, something stuck out to me. The birth of Christ, what we celebrate on CHRIST-mas, was a crazy time, a hectic time. There was a census, a long, bumpy journey on a donkey, an overcrowded city, a filthy stable, a painful labour, loud animals, a crying baby, visits from shepherds and, a few years later, wise men. It wasn't exactly calm and peaceful. But what did Mary do during this time and after it?
"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)As Christmas is over for another year, let's see past the task of taking all the decorations down and cleaning the house. Mary wasn't worried about that after the first Christmas. After Jesus' birth, she stopped, she treasured her Messiah's birth, and she pondered. Let's be like Mary, and treasure up "all these things." Even though our specific celebration of Jesus' birth is over, let's continue to ponder it all year long.