Kept and Pondered

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

Luke 2:19

Today I'm talking about part of the Christmas story. It's February, I know. It'll be ok. ;)

I've been considering these verses about Mary lately, and marvelling at the sweet spirit of this young lady whom God called "blessed among women". Side note: Among women, not above! Mary was a sinner in need of a Saviour, just like the rest of us--however, God chose to use her in a mighty way, and there are so many lessons we can learn just from the small amount we do know of her life! 

The first verse I have listed above takes place right after Mary brings baby Jesus into the world, and heard the story of the shepherds' glorious visitation from the angels. 

Let's look at this a little more closely. In our day, with the completed Word of God in our hands, sometimes we gloss over the familiar stories because we know how things turn out in the end. After all, it's the Christmas story! Most of us could probably quote the majority of it. They go to Bethlehem, Jesus is born in the stable, the shepherds come to worship, and everything is beautiful, right? I think sometimes (at least in my case) we don't think to put ourselves into the Bible characters' shoes and consider how things actually must have looked for them in the moment. 

Imagine being 9 months pregnant. Feeling exhausted, huge, sore, and just ready to hold baby on the outside instead of the inside! ;) Then one day, a mandatory taxation decree comes out from a corrupt leader that no one wants in power in the first place. Oh, and by the way, extra bonus, you and your husband have to drop everything and travel 90 miles away (several days in travel alone) to pay these taxes! I'm sure this was absolutely crushing news to hear at such an already challenging time! But they had no choice, so go they did. I can just imagine Mary's mind running over the days, calculating the journey and how soon they could be back, hoping against hope that the baby wouldn't come while they were in a far away city, many miles from neighbors, sisters, or friends to help with the delivery of her first child. 

I'm sure Joseph did his best to help Mary be comfortable on the journey, but long days of travel in the last stage of pregnancy is pretty miserable even in today's world of soft, cushioned car seats, climate control, and the ability to recline in the car. Mary had none of those options. The journey would have been grueling for her, whether they walked or perhaps had a donkey to ride on.

Then, to top it all off, they got to Bethlehem only to find that every last inn was full! No bed or cot to relax on after the long journey, no welcoming hostess offering a drink and a meal to the weary travelers, only a stable filled with straw and the smell of livestock. 

And then, she went into labor.

Talk about one thing after another! Most likely this felt to Mary and Joseph like the biggest collection of hard and discouraging circumstances they had ever faced. We don't know too much about the details surrounding Christ's birth, so I don't want to take too many liberties with the story...but giving birth is no joke, no matter your circumstances or surroundings. I don't know if she only had Joseph with her, or if he was able to find a midwife or another kindly woman to help deliver the baby, but can you imagine how different this whole situation was than how Mary had envisioned and hoped it would be? It must have been hard at the time to see the purpose behind all of these hardships. And yet, prophecy after prophecy of the coming Messiah was being fulfilled.

We don't know how long Mary was in labor, but eventually, Jesus was safely born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in the trough used for feeding animals. What a bed for the King of kings on His first night in this world in human flesh!

At this point of the night, I'm sure all Mary wanted to do was to rest, recover, and enjoy her tiny new baby, but suddenly on the door step was a group of shepherds wanting to see the newborn Jesus. They told an incredible story of angels announcing the birth of this child, in this town, on this night. They worshipped at the feet of the infant, and left rejoicing and spreading the news of all they had seen.

And now we come to this verse..."But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." How much did Joseph and Mary comprehend about the vast significance of this child's birth? We don't know that answer, but we do know that Mary kept all these things that had happened, and meditated on them. She treasured these events, and brought them back to her heart and mind long into the future. What a precious attitude to have! If anyone would have a "right" to complain, to mourn ruined plans, to be angry over all that had gone "totally wrong", it would be Mary! Very little about this situation was under her control. It may have felt so overwhelming in the moment. And yet, she chose instead to focus her heart with quiet wonder on the workings of God that night. She didn't become bitter or frustrated, she didn't fret about the future, she didn't insist on her "rights"...she kept and pondered.

What a precious lesson for us to learn! In a world that feels upside down, out of control, and chaotic, a world where everything seems to be going wrong and falling apart, God is at work. He has not lost track of His perfect plan along the way. His hands are here, right now, moving hearts and controlling events. 2,000 years ago, He used a corrupt leader and an overbearing edict to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem so the prophecies of Christ's birth would be fulfilled. Today, He can use any person, any circumstance, to further His will. And when this life seems most discouraging, may we choose, as Mary did, to be still and ponder the works of our God.

Love,

Mykaela