my favorite Christmas verse

It is tradition in our household for me to read Luke 2:1-20 before we exchange gifts with one another. Such a familiar passage can easily become robbed of its power, as the circumstances of Christ's birth have become so accepted that we lose the wonder of "being there." Roughly ten years ago, I was drawn to this verse while reciting the narrative:

But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

In the midst of Luke's typical play-by-play is this rare account of human emotion. It's like Luke is describing hundreds of mind-blowing events, and the woman in the middle can do little more than soak it up like a sponge. It must have hit her like a brick. After enduring every trial common to a woman giving birth, Mary finally had the chance to acknowledge, "Wowzers...that really just happened."

Can you imagine? Just a kid by modern description? Yesterday, Mary was a participant in a promise, but today there are angels, witnesses, and curious bystanders holding Mary's child as the center of attention. Is it possible to be more humbled and proud in the same moment? Mary's "treasuring" is in reality a protecting or guarding. It's taking note of the events around her and allowing "all these things" to solidify the truth of the Promise. The Greek term translated "pondering" literally means "to throw together." Mary captured the individual events in her heart and constructed the greater meaning: this son of hers was worthy of creation's praise.

I read that verse and I think of the greatest God moments in my own life, where even as a participant I feel like an open-jawed spectator. That's how magnificent He is. That's how blessed we are to be instruments of His glory.