Devotion

Mary, Jesus's mother, practiced the spiritual discipline of remembering. She treasured the events surrounding Jesus's birth and pondered them. She did not rush past the mystery. She did not forget. She held it, thought about it, let it work on her heart. As you move into the final week before Christmas, practice Mary's discipline. Remember. Think back on the year. Remember the struggles. Remember the joys. Remember the people who have come and gone. Remember the moments of grace. Remember who you were at the beginning of the year and who you have become. Remember God's presence—the moments you knew it clearly and the moments you had to trust it even when you could not feel it. Remembering is not nostalgia or living in the past. Remembering is honoring what has been and integrating it into who you are becoming. When you truly remember, you see patterns. You see growth. You see grace. You see God working. This Christmas, like Mary, treasure these things in your heart. Ponder them. Let memory become a spiritual practice that honors your journey and prepares you for what is next.