My daughter recently accused me of staring at her. She said it makes her uncomfortable. I told her I wasn’t staring I was pondering.
Pondering means to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate upon it, to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully.
Many times the idea of pondering is mentioned in the bible. In Luke, Mary ponders. “Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself”. Or, “but Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
The shepherds came and spoke of what had happened to them, the angels, what they were told and how it was true. She looked at her baby, thought of all that had happened to her in the last year, and carefully weighed it in her mind.
I sometimes look at my children and store up those moments in my heart. They grow up so fast, they change, they smile, they hurt, and they learn to love. My biggest concern for them is that they learn to love God and depend on him, look to him for their needs. But oh, how I love them.
I remember the days when they were small, just moments in time, not necessarily the “great” moments, just moments. They are moments like the other day when my daughter caught me staring. Just times when I stopped and thought, treasured this moment when she was near me. It was a time when she is near me and I can see her, listen to her; even hug her if I dare. As they grow older you realize that they won’t always be around.
Those moments in time are the precious ones. Those are the times when God reminds me that life here is short. And I must be careful to enjoy this life God has given me.
Scriptures also tell us to ponder. Joshua was told to hold on to the scriptures. “Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”
In Psalm 119 it tells us how to maintain a clean life in the face of worldly temptations and ambition. “How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.”
So moments when you see people at church, the ones you know or the ones you don’t, the crowds of people at the malls and stores, the lonely people in welfare lines or homeless shelters or even your co-workers, ponder them. Everyone on this earth is someone Christ died to forgive. We should consider them just as precious. Store up memories for yourselves and ponder what Christ has done for us, each one of us.
