As we are drawing nearer to the Christmas holiday, I finding myself strangely calm and quiet, I guess you could say I am feeling introspective! I am increasingly pulling back in my thoughts.
While I love seeing all the festive homes, ideas and stories of holiday traditions that are so fun this time of year, I am being stirred to redirect my thoughts to what happened that dark and cold night so long ago.
The story of Christ’s birth plays through my head and I am in awe of the miracle that took place. I think about Mary and what she must have been feeling as she gave birth that night.
It is mentioned in the book of Luke that while so many things were happening to Mary, she “quietly treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” I love the thought of “quietly treasuring things” in our hearts.
I think of the song, Mary Did You Know, and I imagine some of the things she was thinking about. I am sure she was weighing the magnitude of her circumstance, the blessing and responsibility God himself had bestowed on her.
She was treasuring in her heart what was taking place and pondering what was yet to come. As a mom myself, who has cradled an infant son in her arms, I feel a wave of emotion rush over me as I think about her thoughts that night.
Mary Did You Know
written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene
Mary, did you know?
that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know?
that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know,?
that your baby boy has come to make you new??
This child that you’ve delivered,?will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know?
that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know?
your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know,?
that your baby boy has walked where angels trod??
When you kiss your little baby,?
you’ve kissed the face of God.
The blind will see?
The deaf will hear?
The dead will live again.?
The lame will leap?
The dumb will speak?
The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know?
that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
?that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know,?
that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb??
This sleeping child you’re holding, is the great I AM.
As I read those words, tears stream down my face and my heart is filled with awe and reverence for that holiest of nights and the amazing miracle that took place. I imagine Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms, stroking his head, kissing his cheeks, holding him close, and treasuring it all in her heart. Such a simple picture, but one that really touches me.
A tiny baby, born in a humble stable, and an event that changed the world. I need nothing more this Christmas than to slow down and quietly treasure these things in my heart. I am content to do just that.
What are your treasuring in your heart this Christmas?
ABOUT MELISSA MICHAELS
Melissa Michaels is the creator of The Inspired Room, a pastor’s wife at Voyage, and a mom of three. When...
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Thank you for sharing this post – this is exactly where my heart & thoughts have been going, too. If you care to, you can check out some of my fairly recent posts for the month of December… “the (WAY) in a manger” being one of them… that I hope I got the message across, and that is to SLOW. STILL. and SEEK.
Don’t leave Jesus in the Manger…
just for a fun side note. Luke 2:19 is where I’ve got my blog inspiration from. Mary spirit of treasuring up and pondering has always “affected” me…
I am treasuring the thoughts of how different our family will be next year … with a new child celebrating with us … With a toddler/preschooler experiencing all the sights and sounds of an American Christmas for the first time. With hearts that have grown enought to bring one more into our fold.
That song always gives me chill bumps. It’s such a huge thing to think about.
Yes. I am working to treasure all the moments with my children. And their little confidences and questions – I would miss them so much if … when they are gone, even while they drive me crazy. I, too, am working to focus on the little things like family, Jesus and the story of why Christmas is truly important.
I love this song. Its one of my favorite Christmas songs. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa- thank you for such a beautiful reminder of CHRIST being the reason for Christmas! The tenderness of your post has given me such a warmth of encouragement through some difficult times this year…(and season). Thank you for allowing God to use you as a vessel to share HIS promises. Merry, Merry Christmas!
that was just beautiful. thanks for sharing.
I treasure the simple joys with my family and sharing Jesus with all who come across my path.
Probably one of the most beautiful posts I have read regarding the birth of Christ. It is such a sweet reminder to ponder what happened so long ago on that night. Where our precious Savior was born. I look at my infant boy….and tears form as I imagine Jesus as a small baby. Oh the love she must have felt and the thoughts she must have had.
My favorite line in “Mary Did You Know” : Did you know,?
that your baby boy has come to make you new??
This child that you’ve delivered,?will soon deliver you
Such a touching post! Thanks so much for the wonderful reminder.
Merry Christmas!
*:
I am treasuring last moments with my first child as my only child (baby on the way any week here), as well as trying to show her the delight of savoring Christ during this busy season. It’s been easier than I expected, actually, saying no to the hustle and bustle and making the simple and the eternal our focus. By God’s grace!
I love this song. I too am ready for a quiet and peaceful time…and treasuring the reason for the season.
I, like you, feel the same thing.
I am enjoying the beauty of the season and these quiet reflective moments are to be treasured. I love it!
That is beautiful. I read your post as my daughters read books about the birth of Jesus and fiddle wiht our Nativity scene…
“…All is calm, all is bright.
Oh, this is a song that I love to hear. It helps me to think past “Manger, Shepherds, Baby”.
May we truly treasure Him in our hearts.
I love love love this song! Brings me such great memories. I also really plan to slow down this Christmas, in fact I am taking the rest of the holidays off from my regular online activities…(Social Networking,etc) Thank you for sharing…!
“I need nothing more this Christmas than to slow down and quietly treasure these things in my heart.”
Oh.
Yes.
Thank you, Melissa…
This, I will hold on to.
All’s grace,
Ann
aw, right now I am treasuring each one of you who are so sweet to comment and share your heart here at (in)courage! merry christmas to all of you!
This Christmas, I am thinking more and more about the Savior and what he would have me do to be more like him. I miserably fail in many areas of my life, I am sure, but one thing that I could do for Him is to remember those that are forgotten or alone this Season. I have made a special effort to make sure that people whom we know who are widowed, alone, destitute or otherwise in challenging circumstances have some special Christmas cheer. Secret Santa gifts and packages sent to people who normally wouldn’t be opening anything this year were high on our list. There is so much to be done, but we focused on what we could do. Consequently, the light and love of our Savior has burned brightly in our hearts and I feel a quiet space inside where in I keep a constant little prayer of thanksgiving for all that we have been given.
God blees you and yours this Christmas and always!
Melissa, I think this is the time of the season that everyone lets the unimportant go and they focus on the important, which always seems to be around loved ones and family. The important things always seem to get done. When it is all said and done it is about the love we have for eachother and what greater love was shown when God gave us his son. I think you are an inspiration to young women and I for one thank you for keeping it real. Merry Christmas to you and to Yours, Kathysue
I am treasuring a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and my teenage sons. I agree. This year Christmas has been at a more meaningful pace, and I have made it clear to extended family that my sons and I will not hustle about at a most sacred time.
Merry Christmas!
I’m treasuring having a tiny baby in our home for Christmas…the first time in a long time. Children that love and honor us. And having my Father still here…last Christmas he was given 6 months to live.
I’m blessed.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful thoughts
It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle bustle of the Christmas Season and trying to make everything perfect. I think back to our Savior’s birth and how “unperfect” things were and yet still so beautiful. Our Savior was not born in a beautifully decorated room, with matching accessories. He was born in a simple manger, a simple birth, meager according to our standards. But Christ is Perfection. So, as I remembered that this season I did not strive for perfection. I focused on the true meaning of Christmas, and giving rather than receiving, and that the most important gift is love also spelled T-I-M-E. Time to be with loved ones, time to be still, time with the Father. My christmas was simple, with family and friends, but very meaningful to me. I feel so blessed.