Sunday 17 December 2017

Sunday morning ponderings . . .

   

The children at church are putting on their Nativity this morning and I, for one, am really looking forward to it.  It is one of my favourite things about the Christmas season. I love the Christmas Story and all that it entails . . . the story of Mary and of Joseph . . . and their tremendous amount of faith.  Of the Shepherds on the hillside and their angelic visitation.  The Wise Men and the long journey that they took.   It all fills my heart with a warmth that is indescribable.  But then I believe with all of my heart that these things are true and not just . . . a story.  It is a re-telling or remembrance which is fraught with mystery, and danger and . . . love. 

I often find myself pondering upon Mary at this time of year, and all that she went through.  She wasn't very old.  We know that Brides from that time and area were often very young, maybe fifteen or sixteen years of age.   I think of what I was like at that age . . . and I am humbled.  I do not think I would have been favoured by God at that age.   She must have been a very special young lady.  I would have been terrified to have been visited by an angel.  How very brave she must have been to take all of these things into her heart and ponder them . . . and then to put up with the ridicule of the villagers upon their learning she was pregnant and not yet married.   A stoneable offense . . . what a scary time.  She must have still felt ashamed, even though she knew it was God's plan . . . but she still accepted her role irregardless of anything else she may have felt.  


More often than not though, I ponder the way she must have felt during the trip to Bethlehem and then the birth of the Saviour.  To be so far away from home, and in pain, and on a journey such as this.   Not nice.    And then to have been forced to give birth to the Son of God in a stable amidst the animals and their noise and smell, without the comfort of a mother or sister's hand to calm her fevered brow or to help to talk her through the experience with tender care.  I do not believe that Jewish law would have allowed her husband to be with her.  She was a virgin and had not even known a man . . . oh how very terrified she must have been . . . and utterly alone. 

Was her labor long . . . difficult?  Did she cry with tears of fear and pain . . . did she feel a bit abandoned?  Did she feel duped?   This was the Son of God.  Had she imagined it all??  Surely were he truly the son of God . . .  the babe would not be born under such dire circumstances . . . did she wonder at that?  Who cared for the needs of her and her newborn babe on this special night?   It must have felt a bit like a long nightmare to her.  Tired.  Alone.   In pain and discomfort in a far away place, and in a smelly barn.  The scriptures tell us that she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and lay him in the manger . . . and the light shone down upon them, and the shepherds came to call . . . and angels . . . did she feel wonder at the moment.  

  

How did it feel to kiss the face of God  . . . 

All of these thoughts and more go through my head and I am awestruck in amazement . . . and so very touched by the story of this young girl, and her faith and the love that is wound about and threaded into every word.  The love and faith of a young girl in her Heavenly Father.  The love and faith of Joseph who accepted these things and went along with it all.  The love of a Heavenly Father for ALL of his children.   The love of the Savior . . .  so much love that He would risk coming to earth as the most vulnerable and helpless of beings . . . a human baby . . .  knowing fully that he would experience all that he had to experience and do what he had to do.  

Love.   That is the thing I ponder most in my heart.   Love.   It is all down to Love.  And when I think of these things I am touched in a way that words cannot describe and I am humbled and I am filled with joy and with peace . . . and with great gratitude. 


Jon, Josh and Jacob

One thing which I miss, being so far away, is the annual Christmas Concerts of my grandchildren.  This was Jon, Josh and Jacob at theirs last week.  At 12 Jon is almost at the age where this type of thing is not really something he wants to do now, and Josh, he is such a sweet serious young boy and Jakey, well Jakey is just Jakey!  He's a real ham.  Love them all to bits!

They had our Christmas party at the chapel last night. We did not go, obviously partly because of the car and partly because we both are not overly fond of being out at night when we have something to do the next day like church.  Thankfully our friend Peter is giving us a lift there and back this morning so we don't have to miss anything. Church last week was canceled due to the weather.  Couldn't be helped.  I hope it is not too long before we get the car on the road again!

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

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Forgiveness does not change the past,
but it does enlarge the future.
~Paul Boese 
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BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's Reading -  2 Nephi 20:12-34   

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? What do these verses teach you about humility?

My Thoughts - Verse 15- Boast itself, magnify itself, shake itself, lift itself up. What makes the saw and the ax move? Of course it is the person who has them in their hand. So why would the ax boast that it has chopped the wood? Why am I so proud and forget Heavenly Father has blessed me with everything I have? And also I remember reading this somewhere,  I can be a useful instrument to Him, in His hand, if I am in tune. 

I love verse 27. I love the visual of being yoked to the world and dragging around a load of its expectations and imposed standards to live up to, with it being a mighty heavy burden because it's always changing and there is no rest. But then when we find Jesus Christ, and covenant with Him, He breaks that burden, the worldly cares we have, and He invites us to yoke ourselves, or bind ourselves- to Him. Let Him carry our necessary cares with us. It reminds me of one of my favourite scriptures: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light".  

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 59) -   2 Nephi 21:1-22:6 
Question -What have you learnt from the reading today? How does learning of Christ's second coming affect the way you live your life? 

 

In the Kitchen today a delicious Apple Torte.  Could this be your Christmas Dessert this year?? Or at least one of them? You can't go wrong with this.  It's fabulously tasty and such a simple bake.

Have a wonderful Sunday.  Don't forget along the way of your day!

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And I do too!  

 

 

7 comments:

  1. Hi Marie, the Nativity is such a wonderful story and I love the children doing their version of events in school or Church. There's always one that makes you laugh!!

    So pleased you're managing to get to Church this morning, enjoy your day!

    Your grandsons are adorable! Lot's of love xxx

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  2. So sorry to hear of your car troubles. Hope it doesn't cost and arm and a leg to get it fixed. You are blessed to have someone to give you a ride. Come Christmas Eve, my little grandchildren that live here will be come shepherds and angles for the evening. The little ones are a delight to watch. There are pieces of heaven on earth for sure. Happy Sunday !

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  3. Hope the car cooperates soon..

    yes all these questions re mary's journey have crossed my mind through the years..especially if I watch a movie..set up my crèche....it used to be when we attended mass..

    Saw Wonder Marie..you would enjoy it tremendously.

    xo

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  4. I hope you get your car back on the road soon.
    I've been to a few of my grands concerts and they are fun to watch them singing and just all the expressions on the kids faces.
    Your grands are growing up and their cuties!
    Big hugs!

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  5. Thanks Kate! We actually did not get to church this morning. Our friend forgot to wake up and although I had telephoned him to remind him, he didn't hear the phone ringing. We sat and waited for an hour past the time he should have arrived. I was really worried that something had happened to him as he has a bad heart. Thankfully he was alright, he just had not awakened in time. Hopefully next week our own car will be working again. Love and hugs.xoxo

    Thanks Pam, I am hoping it doesn't cost an arm and a leg either. We don't have an arm and a leg to spend! Your Christmas Eve service sounds just lovely, especially when your grands are in it! How wonderful! God bless. xoxo

    I really want to see that film Monique. Am reading the book. I really love the book even though it is supposed to be a child's book. Its really good. I hope the movie doesn't leave the theatre before we get a chance to see it. It looks, well, WONDER-full! I had wanted to see The Man WHo Invented Christmas and it has already gone! Love and hugs, xoxo

    I have sadly missed seeing all of my grandchildren growing up Jan. All of them have been born since I moved over here. I have seen my granddaughter 3 times and have never seen her brother at all. I have seen my other 5 grandsons multiple times and we facetime often, so that is good. I feel so blessed to have the technology available to me that I can do that in these modern times! Love and hugs. xoxo



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  6. At last I have got on tonight Marie, I was going to say that I was pleased that you got to church, but then I see your lift failed to arrive. I am so sorry as I know how much you look forward to the children's nativity....ah well will be all the better next year !!....have they decided what is wrong with the car yet ? Praying that you get it back very soon.....I'm sorry I am going to miss our carol service next Sunday, but as its Christmas Eve we are collecting Mitch to take him to the Inn that Barbara my niece works in, she has arranged for us all to have lunch, it's the only time I get to see my great nephews and the great great nephews and nieces...( it makes me very sad not to see them, and it's even worse I think for Mitch not to see his Great Grandchildren.) I know that Mitch has never been very good with the grandchildren and certainly even worse with his four great grands...it was Margaret who played with them all.....Anyway it will be nice to see them all....Heard that my new car will be delivered on 9th January...what a long time I have waited this time, it was ordered way back in July..I'm just hoping it will still be suitable for me and Mary...I'm 98% sure it will be ok...but there's just this doubt at the back of my mind....I will be glad when it arrives. I have asked if they have informed Motability...they have apparently....night night. God bless. Xxx

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  7. These things happen Sybil. I was quite disappointed, but I have decided that my mantra for next year is going to be not to stress about things I have no control over. I am not going to worry about things that are not mine to worry about. (I know easier said than done!) What a wonderful time you are going to have on Christmas Eve! I know you will be missing your dear loved ones who are no longer with you, but I am sure you will have a lovely time. So happy you are going to get your new car! It took long enough. I hope that it is all as it should be! Love, hugs and blessings to you and Mary. xoxo

    PS - Thank you for the lovely stained glass decal which arrived with your card! It made me smile and will make me smile every day when I see it! You are so kind to send it to me!

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