Our Greatest Treasures: Encounters with God

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

–Luke 2:17-20

There’s something about rediscovering my favorite Christmas ornaments that threatens to turn me into a sentimental pile of mush. Among my ornaments, I have several favorites. A beautiful glittery angel, a decorated sea shell from the Bahamas, and a pair of ugly sweater ornaments with my name and my cat’s name embroidered on them.

In late November, a kitchen chair becomes my makeshift ladder as I maneuver through a closet full of boxes, wall art, and household junk to find my Christmas tree and ornaments. Tucked away in boxes and bags, many of my ornaments are surrounded by copious amounts of tissue paper. The bundles of paper making them unidentifiable until I unwrap them.

Opening my ornaments is almost as fun as opening gifts on Christmas Day. I love reminiscing over each one. There is a sense of anticipation as I uncover them. If I’m not careful, I’ll spend too much time trying to remember the stories behind how I acquired them. This may sound obsessive, but it’s not truly the ornaments themselves that I treasure. Instead, I treasure what they represent—fond memories of past Christmas’s.

Finding Our Treasure in Our Encounters with God

As I think of my ornament obsession, I also think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who also had a fondness for memories. In the book of Luke, Mary and her husband, Joseph, received a visit from some local shepherds. The shepherds visited them to share the word of an angel concerning Jesus. In Luke 2:19, it says that “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Later, we learn that Mary and Joseph gave Jesus His name based on their own prior encounter with an angel (Luke 2:21). These verses illustrate that Mary faithfully committed to remembering her encounters with God. She then allowed those memories to help guide her faith. 

As we celebrate this Christmas season, Mary’s example can serve as our reminder that our greatest treasures are the memories of our own encounters with God. Just like Mary, we can anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises, we can reminisce about what He has done, and we can rejoice in the salvation He has already purchased.

Let’s Pray

Father, I thank you that my greatest treasures are found in my encounters with you. Help me to be like Mary who stores them up in her heart and treasures them. Let these precious moments revive my faith when I struggle with trusting you. May they fill me with a sense of wonder and awe at the depths of your great love for me. In Jesus name, amen!