Treasures of the Heart

The Bible amazes me. I'm fascinated by the fact that one can read the same story a zillion times and gain new insight every time.

During the season, I've spent time reading the Christmas story in the book of Luke. The same story that is read every year. However, this year, one little sentence just grabbed me. While in the manger listening to the shepherds explain what the angels had told them, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:9).

I remembered when I gave birth to my first and everyone was so excited to meet her. The room was packed with visitors waiting to see the new baby. I was so proud and elated! I cannot begin to imagine the emotion Mary contained when unknown shepards appeared and confirmed what she already knew. She treasured the moment, and kept it close in her heart.

Later, in Luke 2:41, when Jesus has grown into a boy, he stays behind and listens to teachers, while his parents begin a trek back home. After realizing that he is not with them, his parents anxiously went back and searched for him. As any parent would do, they questioned why he had done this to them. He answered, "Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" and then returned obediently with them. Again, (v.51) "But his mother treasured these things in her heart."

As a mom, I love taking mental photo's and thinking, "I want to remember this moment forever." Little giggles, silly faces, looks of accomplishment, even pouty faces are among my favorites. When my kids are grown, I want to look at them and have a flood of memories of their childhood - the moments that got them to where they're going. I want to see all of the years gone by, but yet relish the moment of the present. I want to treasure these things in my heart the way Mary did of Jesus.

Conversations With the Tooth Fairy

Pods lost her seventh tooth. Mom forgot to do the deed. Pods came running downstairs the next morning to let me know that the Tooth Fairy did not come to visit. Mom tried to explain that maybe she was incredibly busy the prior night. Pods explained that she had tried to trick the Tooth Fairy by placing a piece of candy where her tooth should have been. Mom was off the hook. :) And so began the conversations with the Tooth Fairy....

She carefully wrote the Tooth Fairy a sweet note asking to keep her tooth. The Tooth Fairy wrote back, congratulating her on her "loss" and letting her keep the treasured tooth. She still got her dough.



The following night, while turning out her lamp, I noticed another little note to the fairy. So, the good little fairy wrote her back and left a little fairy dust behind while reminding her to brush up. Oh, the excitement in the morning!



To my surprise, on the third night, Pods created a little bed beside her own, complete with a note asking the Tooth Fairy for more fairy dust. On the pillow lay a little crown made out of wire. How precious is that? Almost as precious as Pod's face looked the next morning when she found curly hair intertwined in the little crown.



Sweet little notes and all sorts of little treasured have been layed out for the Tooth Fairy. She has received Christmas ornaments, money, and crowns of all kinds. Every morning, Pods wakes up to discovered the magic that took place while she dreamt.



I think I'm having the most fun! It's like finding a little Christmas present each night and getting to see that gleam on her face each morning.