Our Bryan will be 30 tomorrow. Seems surreal that we have been blessed by his presence every minute for 30 years. I so loved having a Christmas baby. And, every year I’m thrown back into all the feels of celebrating … holding my tiny son while celebrating Mary’s.
The week Bryan was born, our grandfather, Pop Reinking, went to heaven. I remember every emotion being right at the surface during those tender days.
I often wonder if Mary’s emotions ever waivered?
Her little family was basically displaced.
No room.
No bed.
Unsettled.
Even worse, people were talking. They were not even married. Joseph was older and poor little Mary … she was so young and naïve. ‘Have you heard? … she said she saw an angel and the baby is God’s son! Have you ever heard anything so bizarre?’
In the turmoil of fear that would leave most of us in a puddle
‘… she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.’ Luke 2:7.
And, they slept. They rested. And, Mary treasured these things, pondering them in her heart. There is no indication in scripture that her faith faltered.
Every detail of her life was in an uproar – yet, she was in the presence of the Savior of the world, and that was all she needed to be able to rest, to ponder, to treasure.
Her faith did not waiver at riding a donkey instead of being carried in a cushiony litter. She rested, pondered, treasured.
If I had been ready to pop and rode a donkey, I would not be calm enough to rest. And, Dale would have not been calm about walking from town to town leading a donkey with a pregnant woman on its back.
Mary rested, pondered, treasured.
If I had to sleep in a stable, with coyotes and skunks and wild hogs roaming near, I would not be calm enough to rest.
Mary rested, pondered, treasured.
If I had to lay my perfect, beautiful son in a trough, I would not be calm enough to rest.
If my day did not have an agenda, I did not know how long I would have to be away from home, I would not be calm enough to rest.
If my world were as upside down as Mary’s I would not have been calm enough to rest.
Mary rested, pondered, treasured.
What trauma are you managing at the moment? What fear are you processing … that people can’t see from the outside, but it is ripping your heart in pieces on the inside?
“Come to me all who are weary
(like Mary and Joseph)
and heavy-laden
(gently lay it down into the
manger),
and I’ll give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
If He has been giving rest to those in His presence from His birth, then enter into His presence, place your fear in the manger, and accept your rest. He is waiting for you.
Blessings.