From Moments to Memory: The Gift of Pondering

Dr. Seuss once observed, "Sometimes you don't know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory." These words capture something profoundly true about the human experience—and perhaps nowhere is this truth more beautifully illustrated than in the Christmas story itself.

The Moment Everyone Else Missed

The shepherds had just left, still buzzing with excitement after their encounter with the angels and the newborn King. Everyone who heard their story was amazed, caught up in the wonder and spectacle of it all. But amid all the commotion, one person responded differently.

Luke 2:19 tells us that "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
While others were amazed and moved on, Mary stopped. She slowed down. She reflected. In a culture that constantly pushes us forward, this ancient example offers a powerful invitation:
What if we paused long enough to truly see what God is doing?

What Did Mary Ponder?

Imagine the scene: Mary had just given birth in a barn, surrounded by farm animals, with no modern comforts or medical assistance. The chaos had finally subsided. The shepherds had departed. And in that quiet moment, holding her newborn son, she began to reflect.

God's Promises from the Past

Mary likely thought about the ancient prophecies. Seven hundred years before that night, the prophet Micah had declared that Bethlehem—small, insignificant Bethlehem—would be the birthplace of Israel's ruler. And here she was, in Bethlehem, not by her own planning but because of a Roman census that had seemed like such an inconvenience.

The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was no small undertaking. One hundred miles while nine months pregnant, traveling dangerous roads without modern accommodations, exposed to criminals and wild animals. She could have easily questioned God's timing, His methods, His plan.

Yet in that moment of reflection, she could see it: God had orchestrated everything. What seemed like terrible timing was actually perfect fulfillment of ancient promises.
Isaiah had prophesied seven centuries earlier: "The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a Son and call Him, Immanuel—which means 'God is with us.'" And there He was, Immanuel himself, in her arms. God had been with them every step of that difficult journey.

God's Peace in the Present

Mary may have also reflected on Joseph—this man who had chosen to believe her impossible story, who stood by her when he could have walked away. She might have noticed the gifts from the wise men: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God was providing in ways she hadn't even asked for.

In the middle of chaos, questions, and circumstances she never would have chosen, Mary experienced something supernatural: peace that surpassed understanding. She discovered what countless believers have learned throughout history—that God's faithfulness isn't dependent on our comfort or our plans.

This is the invitation for us: to look at our own lives with different eyes. To pause long enough to notice all the ways God has been present, even in the things we didn't understand and didn't want.

Consider your own journey. What moments seemed like inconveniences or disappointments at the time, but now you can see God's hand in them? What relationships, opportunities, or provisions appeared just when you needed them, even when you didn't realize you needed them?

God's Power in the Future

When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple for dedication, they encountered the prophet Simeon. He blessed the child but also gave Mary a sobering prophecy: "A sword will pierce your very soul."

Mary couldn't have known in that moment that her greatest blessing would also bring her greatest heartbreak. Thirty-three years later, she would stand at the foot of a cross, watching her innocent son suffer and die.

Yet even in that unimaginable pain, Mary's lifetime of walking with God prepared her to trust Him. She had seen His faithfulness in the past. She had known His peace in the present. She could trust Him with the future, even when that future included incomprehensible suffering.

And her trust was vindicated. Three days after the crucifixion, the tomb was empty. Death could not hold Him. The Lamb of God who was slain for the forgiveness of sins had risen, defeating death, hell, and the grave forever.

Emmanuel: God With Us

This is the heart of the Christmas message: Emmanuel—God with us. Not God far away, observing from a distance. Not God waiting for us to get our act together. But God with us, in the mess, in the pain, in the uncertainty.

If you're hurting, He is your comforter. If you're afraid, He is your help in times of trouble. If you feel weak and overwhelmed, He is your perfect strength. If you've been rejected, He is the friend who will never leave you. If you're financially strapped, He is your provider. If you're sick, He is your healer.

And no matter where you are or what you've done, He is your Savior who loves you perfectly. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more, and nothing you can do to make Him love you less.

The Invitation to Ponder

This Christmas season, in the midst of all the activity and excitement, consider following Mary's example. Take a moment—or many moments—to slow down and ponder.

Look back at your life and notice where God has been faithful, even in ways you didn't recognize at the time. Look at your present circumstances with fresh eyes and see where God is providing peace and presence right now. And look toward your future with confidence, knowing that the God who has been faithful before will be faithful again.

Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. But when you take time to ponder, to treasure, to reflect on God's goodness, you transform ordinary moments into encounters with the divine.

Emmanuel is with you now. Will you pause long enough to notice?