Ponder

PONDER

Recently I was hurt by someone that I care for deeply. For some reason I couldn’t say all the thoughts that were swirling around in my head. I kept thinking~ if they only knew, they wouldn’t be saying any of this.

And as I was feeling sorry for myself the next day, I thought about Mary. Pregnant with Jesus, her Son and her Savior. How could she explain a virgin birth? How could she escape the words of judgment? I thought about all the times she was probably hurt by those she cared about deeply. And she probably thought~ if they only knew, they wouldn’t be saying any of this.

What did Mary do in those moments? She didn’t lash out. She didn’t get angry or try to defend herself. She pondered all these things in her heart.

I have no doubt that she talked to the very One in her womb. The very One Who created her, and gave her life and breath. Imagine that. Jesus lived inside her!

But, we don’t have to imagine, because if you have received Jesus as your Savior, He lives inside you too!

Christmas festivities are in full swing. Families and friends will be getting together this week more often than any other time of the year. Some we look forward to seeing, and others we might dread. Walking on eggs shells might be an understatement. Opinions might be stated. Words might be spoken. Feelings might be hurt.

But for the believer, we can be like Mary. We can choose to stop and to ponder. To talk to Jesus before lashing out to anyone else.

And we can choose love.

For what better example do we have than Christ our Lord, Who came to earth for us. What a gift of love that is. He knew what He was getting into, and yet He chose love.

Don’t hold on to hurt, whether it’s from the past or the present. Talk to Jesus about it. Ponder and pray.

And love.

Merry Christmas!