Have you ever experienced such a special and sacred moment that you couldn’t even find the words to talk about it? You just wanted to sit and savor it. Maybe you were inwardly processing all that had taken place, holding those memories close to your heart, because they were so special. Or maybe you were sifting through the events that took place, trying to discern what meaning it holds.
After the shepherds shared their story of how they found the baby King in a feeding trough, Mary held all these things close to her heart like little treasures discovered along the way. She didn’t understand everything, but she believed it with simple faith.
Remember: Luke 2:19-21
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. - Luke 2:19-21
The shepherds spread the word about Jesus, an infant King for the least of mankind to the greatest. But Mary, she silently kept all these moments guarded in her mind. Treasures that she would no doubt pull out and be reminded of when her heart was weary or her faith felt fragile in the coming months and years.
She pondered each interaction, each affirmation of her child who was also her Savior. Sifting. Organizing. Taking each thought, and looking at it from every angle piecing together this unfolding Gospel that would one day form a complete picture in her mind. One day, her heart would be pierced with the beauty of the story of redemption that she was chosen to play a small part in and that she so desperately needed.
She slowly savored every God ordained moment like we slowly savor a mouthful of Christmas fudge. As it melts in our mouth, we detect the rich chocolate with hints of peanut butter along with a silky texture that reminds us of a sweeter time. Savoring the Savior at Christmas makes the season all the sweeter.
Reflect
Just like Mary, we gather scattered revelations from the Old Testament as we see each one fulfilled in Christ and we ponder them, treasuring them in our hearts. And when we face our own season of silence, we pull out these treasures and organize them in our minds, looking at them from every angle, until our hearts are warmed and settled by these precious truths. These truths keep us in seasons of waiting. We rehearse the Gospel, that Jesus came for us. He entered our pain. This baby wrapped in earthly flesh feels our silence, he waits with us. Ponder this. Treasure this. Savor this.
Respond
Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:
Breathe In:
Jesus, I savor this truth
Breathe Out:
You enter into my pain.
The Journey
This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.
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