Memories of Christmas

Now that most of the preparations for Christmas have been made, the shopping is done, and the food has been bought, this is my favorite part of the Christmas season. It is the time when we go to church, read our Bibles, sing worship songs, gather with family, fellowship around the table and games, and take in the many blessings God has given us. To me this is the best part of the Christmas season.

I hope you have plans and the ability to turn a few things off, find a quiet place, and ponder Christmas in your heart. The Christmas story says that this is what Mary did, “She pondered all of these things in her heart.” The word for “ponder’ is the Greek word “diatereo.” It means “to keep permanently like it is a treasure.” Just like for Mary, Christmas allows us to keep some things permanently in our hearts that are treasures.

My father-in-law says the best thing about getting old is the memories. I am not as old as him yet, but I will tell you that some of the best “things” I have in life are the memories I carry with me.

What memories of Christmas are you carrying as treasures in your heart? It may be a person, a gift, a place, a memory, a song or something else. It is different for each one of us, but that is part of the beauty and joy of it. It is our treasure. These are not the treasures of money or possessions. It is the treasures that money can’t buy.

This Christmas season find some time alone to rediscover your treasures and spend some time “treasuring” these things. To treasure them means to think about them, rejoice in them, see them as a good gift from God, and to praise Him for what He has given. I think when you do this, you will discover that the best treasures you have are not the things you own or possess, but they will be the things that money can’t buy, and death can’t take away.