All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. LUKE 2:18-19 (NLT)

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But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (NIV)

But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. (CSB)

Mary was quite a remarkable woman. She gained depth perception and broadened perspective beyond what could be expected for someone her age.

Mary held her precious memories close. She “thought about them often.” She “pondered them in her heart.” She “was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.”

_Precious memories, how they linger._

Some things are worth remembering forever.

Mary had a baby when she was quite young. She lived for months with questions and accusations, and no doubt some measure of ostracism. All she could hold onto was God’s purpose, his promise, and her baby who would never be exclusively hers. With God’s purpose, God’s promise, and God’s Son, she could endure anything.

In those moments after the pain and discomfort of childbirth, when angels alerted shepherds, and shepherds alerted everyone else, that the long-awaited Messiah had been born, Mary observed every face and each hope. She heard the joy in their voices. She saw the wonder in their eyes. She collected those memories, holding them close, remembering them every time she looked into that precious face.

When we see Mary years later in John 2, we hear two simple statements from her lips. She said to Jesus, “They have no more wine,” (v. 3). Then she said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you,” (v. 5).

Mary knew. She remembered. God supplies whatever we need whenever we need it. She knew and remembered that Jesus always did the right thing the right way for the right reason in the right timing.

Trust Jesus to do the right thing. Trust God to supply what is needed when it is needed.

Pondering turns into prayer. Prayer aligned with God’s purpose and God’s promise never lacks God’s supply. Mary remembered. She helps us remember this truth as well.

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I will remember to trust God for what I need when I need it.

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Our Father, thank you for Mary and her precious memories. Thank you for her quiet faith and enduring witness. Teach us, like her, what to treasure and what to discard. Teach us, like her, to trust you to always do what is right and to always provide what is truly needed. Expand our capacity to recall all of your wonders in our lives so that we may move into this day and all days to come with Mary’s quiet confidence and grace. Amen.