1 More Day...A Silent Night - Anything But

Several years ago, I was asked to speak at a Ladies' Christmas Banquet.  The theme of the night was "A Silent Night."  I was so excited about getting the opportunity to speak to these women and share all about the night of Jesus' birth.  

"Silent Night, Holy Night. All is calm  All is bright."

However, the more I studied, the more I wondered where in the world did the "silent" come from.  Here was Mary, pregnant - very pregnant - traveling to Bethlehem.  Many tell us that she traveled on a donkey.  Can you imagine?  Pregnant and traveling oh so far on a donkey.

Then Joseph and Mary finally arrive to their destination only to find there was no room for them in the inn.  They were given a stable.  Some scholars describe it as cave with feeding troughs carved into the dark rock walls.  It was a dark and dirty place.  I entitled my lesson for that night, "A Silent Night...Anything But."

People traveling to their hometowns, weary from travel; donkeys; crowds; Mary delivering the Son of God in a stable - that stinks (like all stables do); cobwebs; stench of urine and dung; sheep and all their baaaaing...

Again I ask you...where did the "silent" come from?  

I believe it is found in Luke 2:19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."  

Mary could have focused on all the things around her, but she focused on that baby and the hope He would bring to the darkness.  She pondered - thought about, meditated on.

So what are you pondering this Christmas season?  The noise, the crowds, the smells, that baaaaing in your ear?

It is so easy to get distracted by the stress and busyness of this season.  

May we, like Mary, ponder the right things in our hearts this season.  The things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).  Things that benefit and build others up according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29).  

Then all that noise is quieted by the peace of our Savior.  He is our hope.  He came to set us free.  He came to make a way for us.  May we treasure up all these things and ponder them in our hearts.  Joy to the world!  Joy! Hope! Peace! Love! Forgiveness! Grace! Mercy!

Silent night.  Holy night.  All is calm.  All is bright!

Merry Christmas my friends.

"All of my life, in every season, You are still God.  I have a reason to sing.  I have a reason to worship." Natalie Grant