Lord, Make Me a Ponderer!

Picture this: I’m wrapped in the warm twinkle of our Christmas trees, surrounded by tiny village churches, my mom’s beloved ceramic tree with its colorful little bulbs, and my cherished Nativity sets. The air is filled with the sweet aroma of Maple Sugar Scentsy wax melts, and everything feels just right.

I am pondering. And what better time to ponder than during Advent and Christmas, when our hearts and homes seem to glow a little brighter?

A couple of nights ago, over Chick-fil-A sandwiches and a decadent peppermint shake, we overheard a touching conversation. Behind our table was an older gentleman sitting with his young (maybe around 8 years old) granddaughter — in her pink dance costume.

He leaned in and asked her, “Do you know what cogitate means?” He didn’t wait for an answer before explaining, “It means to think deeply about something.” He went on to talk about the importance of thinking before speaking.

Carl and I were smitten. There we sat, with me savoring my peppermint shake and both of us savoring that delightful word: cogitate. We couldn’t stop repeating it, letting it settle into our hearts like a favorite carol.

It’s a word that reminds me of Luke 2:19: “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Christmas invites us to pause, ponder, and treasure the precious moments as Mary did.

This season, I’m trying to embrace the art of pondering over hustling. Instead of running from one thing to the next, I’m choosing to slow down and think deeply about the miracle of the King of Kings coming to live among us.

The prophets often reminded God’s people to remember His works, and Mary shows us the beauty of treasuring and pondering God’s goodness.

I followed her example a couple of days ago. I wrote my Christmas letters to each of our nineteen beloved family members, pouring my heart into every word. I want them to know how much they mean to me. I’m sitting in gratitude, treasuring memories, pondering God’s love, and, yes, cogitating.

What if this Christmas we all took time to ponder? To halt the busyness, reflect on Mary and Joseph’s journey, and remember the Savior’s gift? Who knows? A little pondering might just be the answer to the perfect Christmas gift to ourselves.