Making Joy Last

So many angels! They popped up in the temple with Zechariah, in Mary’s presence and Joseph’s dreams, and then a whole sky full of them for the shepherds! They were full of joy and light and “don’t be afraid” messages.

But after Jesus’s birth the everyday things returned—routines of meals and work and worship, interspersed with exciting and sometimes terrifying events. Mary and Joseph would flee their homeland to keep the baby safe, then return and live in obscurity as they raised the child.

How would Mary get through the dreary or difficult days ahead? What could she do with this mountain-top experience as she moved through valleys and deserts?

She would keep these things in her heart.

But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant.

Luke 2:19 (CEV)

Different translations say Mary pondered, treasured, or held these things in her heart. She considered them deeply, remembering these events often and holding to the words God had given. She lived through the “already” of having the Son of Man with them and his miracles and teachings and suffering and death. She waited through the “not yet” of his proven resurrection. She continued to trust in the Lord’s promises—including his promised return.

As Christmas closes with company leaving (and calories lingering), kids turning cranky, lights dimming, and decorations getting dusty, we too return to the everyday. We live in the “already” of having Jesus’s resurrection and guidance, and the “not yet” of seeing his glory in heaven and his return to earth.

And we also can treasure these things and ponder them in our heart. We can keep Christ not only in Christmas, but in our every day. We can remember what the Word tells us, of light and joy and fear-not and God is with us—for he is! We can continue the “Christmas Spirit”—the Christ-with-us spirit—of being joyfully generous, doing kind things for people, anticipating his return, and celebrating the coming victory before we see it.

As you face the days of the year ahead and anticipate both mountaintops and valleys, keep these events and the words about Christ deep in your heart.

PRAY

Lord thank you for the joy and beauty of Christmas. Most of all, thank you for being the God who is with us. Help me hold to this truth and ponder it often in the days to come. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Questions: How can we keep celebrating Jesus?

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand their Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Look up the following passages for today:

Psalm 145:5

Philippians 4:8

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Tonia Gutting wrote this devotional for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage Military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your Military family, check out our website.www.myherosquad.org.