Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

I can imagine Mary’s interview with Luke, all those years later. I can also understand that Mary couldn’t stop thinking about these things at the time. Simply giving birth is a traumatic experience, not to mention the circumstances of being in a barn – probably a cave – and then on top of that, have total strangers show up and say that an angel had told them about the baby! She had known from the start that this baby was special, and all these things piled up to confirm that. Thinking about what God allows us to experience isn’t a bad thing, because it allows those things to sink into us and grow us as God intends. Obsessing over things isn’t good, but failing to receive the lessons God gives us is bad. Once again, Mary is a good example to us, because she allowed all these events to become part of her, and they prepared her for the incredible task of raising the Son of God.

I am not the best judge of how well I have processed the lessons God has given me. I guess I’ll find out when I stand before Him in heaven. It’s odd to me which experiences seem to pop up in my memory, for no particular reason. I need to let the Lord show me the various reasons for those memories. I’m in the process of writing my autobiography, and I find that I’ll get through a period of my life and then remember something important that I’d skipped over. I’m thankful for computers, that make it easy to go back and insert material. What is most important to me is that my whole life has been, and continues to be, a story of God’s grace. My reason for writing is so that others may better realize what a gracious God we have, and open their own hearts to Him more fully. As I write, I need to let all those life experiences further work in me to shape me more into the likeness of my Lord, for that is the reason for my existence.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You for getting us through the candlelight service last night, and that things went so well. Thank You for the two not-yet-Christians who attended, and for the evidence that You are working strongly in them. May their day of commitment, of rebirth as children of God, come soon, for their salvation and Your glory. And now that all these pressures are past, may I use each moment of each day to do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!