I have 83 journals. At the age of twelve, I first put pen to paper. Now, 24 years later, I have tomes written about family gatherings, answered prayers, hardships, and blessings. The ritual of writing these remembrances has been well worth the time spent and the resulting cramped hand. The books are treasured volumes to me. They remind me of God's faithfulness in my life. He writes my story; I'm the scribe.

Luke 2:19 – But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (ESV)

In this verse, notice how Mary takes time to ponder what has occurred in her life. She has birthed a Son. Angels sang. Shepherds visited. The glory of God shone all around her. Yet, she does not hurry into her future, anxiously addressing the demands of her newborn, the dilemma of where her family will live, or the worry of how to provide for her fledgling family. Instead, she pauses to treasure the wonder of what God has already bestowed upon her.

With Christmas over, and the new year approaching, we can continue to be distracted by this season of the year with its traditions, long lists, and strapped wallets. It is easy to overlook the purpose of these days. We might miss the chance for reverence. Perhaps as 2020 winds down, we could take a few moments to recall our blessings of the year. Write down answered prayers. Share with a friend how God has sustained us through hardship. The treasures of God do surround us. We just need to stop and remember them. In the stillness, let's encourage gratitude to bubble up like a spring of living water. Let our hearts sing out in joy, "Look what God has done!"

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for this season. Thank You for sending Your Son as a gift to help us to slow down and appreciate Your faithfulness, Your goodness, and Your love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Kathleen Dunlap <kedunlapco@gmail.com>
Arvada, Colorado, USA
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