LWML > Resources > Quarterly Magazine

Treasure Up
By Velma Bass

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

Mary had experienced a lot at the time of this “pondering” verse recorded in Luke: an angel’s visit, an unbelievable pregnancy, a tough journey, a lonesome birth, a shining star, and unexpected rural visitors to a make-shift nursery.

But she had a lot more to experience and ponder during the life of her precious Son: Magi arriving bearing gifts of wealth, His youthful brilliance at debating, His mixed-reception three-year ministry, His determination to walk a frightening path into the face of death during what we now call Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter.

The words from a familiar Christmas song, “Do you see what I see?” remind me that as an older Christian, I have the advantage of knowing the rest of Jesus’ Easter story — His story. I’ve had years to ponder what I’ve seen, what I’ve heard, what I’ve experienced, and what I know about this Jesus who came to us as a Baby in a manger and grew to be our Savior and Redeemer. I become ever more convinced that He left me the task of announcing the goodness and light of Jesus through my faithfulness and commitment, my actions, and my love for others.

When I was in the middle of the busyness of my middle years, time to ponder was at a premium. I thank God for the pondering time that I have now — and I pray that the younger women of the church will “treasure up all of these things” in their hearts so that they, like Mary, can ponder them later.