Christmas is a time for making memories.  Too often the hustle and bustle of the season consumes our thoughts and emotions.  Let me encourage you to take time to pause and ponder.  Capture precious memories as they occur and place them in your memory treasure chest.  One of my favorite verses in the Christmas story is when young Mary paused just to try and absorb everything that had taken place in her life over the past 9 months.  She had plenty of thoughts to treasure.

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:16-19 NASB)

Mary was young, but she was wise.  Her entire world had had been turned both upside down and inside out over the past nine months.  It all started with a visit from an angel.  Can you imagine the thoughts and emotions that must have been rushing through Mary’s mind?  It is at this moment that she pauses to quietly reflect and ponder all that has taken place.  She is replaying the memories of her life and especially the past year.  In her memories, she is finding treasure…and lots of it!

What treasure might you find if you paused to ponder and reflect on God’s hand in your life?  What has this past year held for you?  Reflect on the good times and the not-so-good times and you will discover that there is treasure in both.  I have a good friend whose wife was diagnosed with cancer.  I remember them sharing that as they reflected back on that year, they would say the answer to what was the “best” and “worst” part of their year was the same: “the cancer”.  Why?  As they reflected on their experience, they saw God’s faithfulness, comfort and providential purpose through both the best days and worst days of the year.  They discovered treasure in both.

Treasured thoughts are only discovered in quietness.  Evaluated experiences in life are an invaluable resource for personal growth and development.  You will find riches that are worth treasuring in every life experience.  Often times the hidden treasure is only revealed in time.

One final thought: Mary was in a stable when this took place.  It was stinky, noisy and people were coming from everywhere to see her baby.  There was a lot to complain about.  But Mary had an attitude of gratitude and when she paused to ponder she found treasure in her thoughts.

Take time today to pause, with gratitude, and discover treasured thoughts.  Merry Christmas!

“Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments thereof are kept and preserved.” ~ Thomas Fuller