The Power of Pondering
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Hello!! I hope you all have had a wonderful past two weeks 🙂 I was enjoying quality time and a great adventure with my family on a cruise up the coast of Alaska. I missed writing this, but thought about (or pondered 😉 ) you all and this newsletter quite a bit, even if I am writing this at 9:30 pm on Monday night… Here’s what’s on my mind: the power of pondering. In Luke 2, we catch two glimpses into the heart and life of Mary. First, in Luke 2:15-20, we see the shepherds come and worship baby Jesus, and then go off and tell everyone they see that the Messiah has arrived. Mary’s response to their praise is shared with us as well: And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then, in Luke 2:41-51, a young Jesus gets lost in the temple and His anxious parents run around looking for Him. When they do find Him, He says, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” and again we hear, “…and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” So what can Mary’s “pondering,” her “keeping all things in her heart” teach us? It’s a good reminder that we should ponder the good things the Lord does for us. In the first instance, Mary reflects on the shepherds and their faithful worship, and how they then go and evangelize the arrival of the Messiah. In the second, Mary reflects on what would have been an incredibly scary and uncertain experience, until the Lord showed up to provide through the return of her son. How many of these moments do we have in our own lives? Moments of goodness and glory, moments of redemption and rescue, moments of hope and healing? And how often do we reflect on them? My goal this week is to be more intentional about pondering the good things the Lord has done, is doing, and will do in me and my life and the lives of those around me. He is always moving, always present. Let’s learn from our Blessed Mother and live from a place of gratitude, remembrance, and humility. In Christ, Jane What I’m Loving Lately Pray little (and big) prayers The Lord wants a relationship with us!! Over the past few weeks I’ve intimately experienced the fruit of praying little prayers, and wow. I cannot recommend them more! I read a few books on my cruise (wouldn’t recommend them all) but I definitely recommend this one!! It’s so cute – it’s about a group of people in a retirement home who solve a murder that happens in their village. It was hilarious and so sweet and I just devoured it. If you’re looking for a cute, fun mystery – give this a read! A murder at a wedding in Nantucket? Say less. I am a sucker for a limited murder mystery series, especially when Nicole Kidman shows up. This one did not disappoint. One of the most beautiful spiritual books I’ve ever read, and a friend just reminded me about it! It’s based on the teachings of St. Therese. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a reminder of how much God loves you and has chosen you 🙂 A glimpse of Alaska! Too many photos to share but here’s a cute little bear we saw!! |
Prayer requests
- For my friend Julia’s wedding this weekend!
- For a special intention
- For those who are sick
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Jane was born in Australia, raised in California, and is overjoyed to now call NYC home. She graduated from UCSB with degrees in Political Science and Communication and spent the past two years working in criminal justice reform. She is currently an MBA student at NYU Stern, focusing on entrepreneurship and strategy.