Pondering

‘Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart’ (Luke 2: 19)

Have you ever heard someone say something to you, and  you were particularly struck by their comment? Perhaps it was some insight or even a compliment. You may then have found yourself ‘treasuring’ these words and may have continued pondering them.

After so many utterly marvellous and remarkable things had occurred for Mary, and once the shepherds had departed, Luke tells us that Mary treasured their words (regarding the announcement from the angels about the birth) and pondered it all.

What a lot it must have been for a young lassie to take in. No doubt it will all have felt very unreal and unbelievable, not to say terrifying (one the one hand) and amazing (on the other).

Some weeks ago, someone with whom I was speaking said something that took me by surprise. They were suggesting that I possessed a certain quality which I would never have attributed to myself. My first instinct was simply to regard it as a kind (but likely flattering and not entirely accurate) compliment. But the more I reflected on what this person had said – and the way they had said it – the less it felt like a compliment, and the more it felt like it might be a word of insight.

That scares me a little, as to possess the quality this person mentioned would bring with it certain implications. It is a very good quality and one to which I might have aspired. But if I do possess it, then it also demands something of me.

I thought about it on and off for a few days. And then someone else, entirely independently said much the same thing to me.

It has all rather taken me aback. I am still not sure that I agree with their assessment.

But what I am doing is ‘treasuring these words and pondering them in my heart’ and – indeed – weighing up the rather daunting implications of their possible insights.

I wonder if you too have had something said to you that you might instinctively wish to dismiss, but you really would do well to treasure and ponder... and even consider whether, in what has been said, there may be a wee nudge from God – perhaps a call to something?