But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19
Over the past three Christmas and New Year’s holidays, we have traveled to some amazing places with our extended family; Maui, Disney Land, and San Diego. We have made so many special memories with our families at those places. We look forward to our family trips because there is a new adventure planned for us each day. But if you have ever seen the movie Home Alone, where the family is running frantically through the airport to catch their flight and hoping they didn’t forget anything, you understand how rushed we have felt trying to get through the airport. However, we have never forgot one of our children at home!
I feel like the Christmas season goes by so quickly! Like many people, it’s one of my most favorite times of the year and yet it seems to always feel so crazy and rushed.
During this time, I often think about the journey Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem. It’s such a beautiful story, but a journey not many of us would make, especially if we were with child. Mary and Joseph did not make the trip willingly. They left the comfort of family, home, and their community to go to a strange place. All of this during a challenging time as Mary was soon to deliver her child. They made the long and dangerous trip. When they arrived, the time came for the baby to be born. It was not the circumstances Mary would have hoped for. It was not the way you would think the King of Kings would come into our world, but Christ was born, in a place fit for animals.
Soon, angels and shepherds would arrive to see the child. At the end of journey, it is said that Mary held her son and, “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The travel, the business, the labor was all finished and Mary was able to consider all that was happening and what it meant to the world.
It was a gift for Mary to be able to slow down. For me, slowing down is a blessing. I’m looking forward to not packing or rushing to be anywhere this holiday. I will miss traveling, but I know it is a gift to slow down and remember the wonderful gifts I have right in front of me. I am thankful for my home, my family, and the gift of love and Light that came into the world on that very first Christmas.
I hope you are taking time to slow down this Advent season and consider all the good that is right in front of you. Advent is a wonderful season to give thanks to God as we treasure up all that is in front of us and ponder them in our heart.
Jamie Williamson, Edmond Campus Director of Administration
