“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:19 & 51
Mary would not have been able to understand all that had taken place, but she received it all in faith and waited until it should be made clear. In Luke 1:38, Mary told the angel of the Lord, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Though she knew not all the details, she willingly submitted to the Lord in obedience.
Mary remembered what the angel had said to her. She took note of what the shepherds had heard and seen regarding her newborn baby and now adds the memory of Jesus staying behind in order to be in his Father’s house. Not knowing the end goal for her son, Mary had the desire to take note of all these things in order to look back and see how the Lord’s word, which was brought to her earlier through the angel, would one day come to fruition.
May we too remember and take the time to ponder all that has taken place in our lives; to see how God uses extraordinary circumstances in order to bring us to where we are today.
Lock Your Wings 
The Christmas story in Luke 2 is probably one of the most recited passages and feels a bit strange to read it in August instead of December. However, I think to reflect on it without the context of Christmas, it is interesting to note: 1. Joseph knew he was from the line of David-despite the complicated genealogy of many generations.
2. Joseph and Mary traveled nearly 30 hours to get from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It was hard enough working at Safeway hours before our daughter was born, never mind that long journey! Was Mary in labour along the route?
3. They traveled over an hour to Jerusalem for Jesus’ dedication. Likely not an easy walking journey with a baby 8 days old.
4. Then they traveled back to Nazareth (another 30 hours). That’s a ton of walking in any circumstance, but immediately after birth is unbelievable.
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Good points!
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