Luke 2: 19.
KJV: But Mary kept all these things, and pondered
them in her heart.
TNIV: But
Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
One might
ask, what things? The surrounding stories would suggest the appearance of the angel
Gabriel, shepherds, a company of singing heavenly hosts and a message locating
the birth of the long expected birth of the Messiah-Savior. This is not
Christmas time so let’s get real. Some or all of these stories may be true or
they may not, that is not the point of their telling. The possibly exaggerated
stories were told only to convince the listener, nothing else. They were not deceitful
stories, they were stories told to add an exclamation point.
Was Mary
pondering the stories or something else? If you or I were an unmarried pregnant
teenager, what would we be pondering? If you or I were an unmarried pregnant teenager
who had heard from somewhere that God was up to something in and through your child, what
would we be pondering? If you or I were a newly wedded pregnant bride, with a doubting
virgin husband, what would we be pondering? If you or I were a homeless couple taking
shelter with the animals, what would we be pondering?
Maybe Mary was pondering over the question, "Is God really in the midst of my circumstances?" How can it be?
Yes, Mary, your child will be speaking my things to your world, some will listen but most will not. By trusting in the midst of your questions and doubts, you have done your part.
For us, take heart, we too are not alone in our questions. The only answer that matters is yes, I shall trust today and fight the fight of faith again tomorrow.
G. Goslaw
Landers, Ca.
