Christmas ponderings

So far I have not made much of an effort to get Christmas into my heart. I have been listening to lots of Christmas music though :) I have been trying to keep things very basic and have been thinking about the birth of my Savior. I have been pondering about what happened in between the lines.

Mary is visited by an angel and told she will conceive and bear the son of God. I know that she was incredibly valiant and was given lots of help. But I can't help wondering how people viewed her. She was engaged to be married and pregnant. Did they whisper and shun her in the market place? Did many people know the truth and did they believe her?

I also find the relationship between Mary and Joseph interesting. He is such a kind and gentle man. He truly loved Mary. He wanted to do right by her.
Matthew 1: 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
He didn't want to embarrass her or make things worse than they needed to be. Then he was visited by the angel and it says that when he woke he took Mary to wife. I imagine he was very supportive to her in the delivery of Jesus. Was he frustrated that he couldn't find somewhere better than a mere stable? Did he ever feel confused or perhaps jealous that Mary was given such a great responsibility? I don't think so. It seems that he was endlessly loving and supportive; definitely chosen for the job. He seems to have known his place. He was the child's protector and example here on earth, yet he was not His father. But I can easily imagine the two of them working in the shop together and having a special bond with each other.

This scripture has been one of my favorites for many years-
Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
What a spiritual giant she must have been! I strive to be more like her.
This is probably my favorite picture. I don't know much about art, but when this picture was the in the Ensign a few years ago, it brought me to tears. I cut it out and hung it next to my bed. (Sorry that it's on a store site, but I wasn't sure about copyrighting issues).
How would she have felt when the shepherds showed up? She had just given birth for the first time. Birth is kind of a dirty, exhausting, wonderful experience. I cherish those first few hours when it is just me, daddy and the baby. Yet the child was not completely hers. Did she fully understand this when people came to worship him? Did she ever want to say, hey guys, can you come back later? I just gave birth and am not really up to entertaining right now. As far as we can tell she didn't. She just pondered everything in her heart.

And the shepherds. What pure, simple faith they had. What joy must have filled their hearts to have an angel personally announce the birth of the Savior to them!

The wise men. I have thought a lot about them lately on their journey to find Christ. They must have studied and been watching for the new star. Were they ridiculed for their faith and hope? When they decided to go on this long journey what did those around them think? Were they supportive or did their wives think they were crazy? Did the wise men ever feel like turning around? What a big gamble to travel such a long way. And at the end of their journey did they feel it had all been worth it? I believe they did. I feel that we are all on a journey to find Christ and we can follow their example.

I believe that Christ was born on the earth, just as it says in the scriptures. I believe He is the Only Begotten Son. He came to earth because He loves us and His father. Through Him all my wishes can come true. I love Him and want so desperately to feel worthy to be in His presence when I get my chance to meet Him.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

P.S. If you haven't had a chance to watch these videos you really should. They are beautiful!

Always

It is late (or very early), but I have been thinking about the word always. I don't want to over analyze things (although the risk for that is really quite low), but I think that there are mysteries and valuable lessons contained in details.

In school the word always is a big red flag in true or false questions. That one word stands out because it is rarely, if ever correct. Chemistry is one place that comes to mind. Elements never react the same way every time. How interesting is it that it is one of God's most defining attributes, yet here on earth we see the word always and automatically assume it is false? I think this is one of the concepts my little mortal brain can't quite get a good hold on. I have faith that it is true and I have evidence of it in the scriptures. Someday I will understand the breadth and scope of that word.

Here are a few of those scriptures-
Doctrine and Covenants 62:9 Behold, the kingdom is yours. And behold, and lo, I am with the faithful always. Even so. Amen.

Mosiah 29:12 Now it is better that a man should be judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the judgments of man are not always just.
What a relief that is to know that His judgments are always just! We can know exactly where we stand and what we can improve on.

Mosiah 4:12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
I came across this scripture a couple of weeks ago and found such joy in it. What a wonderful peace that comes from knowing the constancy and unchanging nature of God and His plan.

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Doctrine and Covenants 108:8 And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. Amen.
I love the simplicity and directness in this one. It is a fact. He wants to bless us always.

Moroni 7:47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
His love endures forever. This is a blessing that I am working on understanding, accepting and welcoming with the hope that one day I will be able to emulate Him.

In a world that is constantly changing I am filled with gratitude and peace to know that there is someone I can always rely on.

Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.