12 Days Of Christmas: Treasure

“Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.”

- Anthony J. DeAngelo

In March when the first shelter-in-place orders were given, I decided to record in my journal the things I learned through the experience. Looking back over the list this week, I noticed a word that kept bubbling to the surface...time.

Although work responsibilities never slowed down and we had to twice cancel planned travel to see family in Indiana, a trip with friends to the Central Coast, and a week in Hawaii, we had time to clear our minds and rediscover creativity.  We may not have been able to visit Disneyland or go out for dinner, but we saved money on gas and reignited our love of cooking together at home.

Our son and his family from Northern California were able to work from our house (and go to school) four different weeks this year. Everyone would be on computers in different rooms in the house and in the evenings, our daughter and family would come over and we’d just hang out. Why? There was NOWHERE TO GO so everyone “had” to be together. I am so grateful and I’ll treasure that time and those memories for the rest of my life!

Luke 2:8-19 tells about the shepherds going to Bethlehem to see the newborn Savior. After they left to spread the word, verse 19 says,

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

Mary didn’t have riches or influence. She was just a teenager who had a baby in a barn! But that didn’t matter. She was part of something so much bigger. After Jesus’ birth, Mary treasured God’s promises and pondered them in her heart.

This year has taught us all that a full calendar and travel aren’t what really matters. They might even hold us hostage. But when our heart is captivated by God’s love, a love that came down to earth at Christmas, we have a treasure that can never be taken away!

Take TIME to ponder the blessing of our treasure!

Pastor Pam

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