....in her heart.- Part 1

December.  Wonderful December!  Our Sunday meetings were what I would call spectacular !  Sincere heartfelt testimonies!  A great lesson in SS, as the year ends, with a quick overview of the first 3 chapters of the Book of Revelation!  Then the piece de resistance  ... a RS experience that was just heavenly!

For at least the last 6 years, the December 1st Sunday lesson time, has been used in some sort of musical format, as a Christmas celebration of the Savior.  Julianna outdid herself in her choice for this year as it was magnificent!!!  Called The Women Who Knew Jesus  by Judith Hoopes Hamilton.  A very different take on a very familiar story.  It featured 6 women (they were outstanding in their presentations!)- Mary's Mother, Joseph's Mother, John's Mother, a shepherd's wife, the inn-keeper's wife, & Mary.  The dialogue was just so real.  You could feel the Spirit so strong.  After each woman did her part, we all sang specific hymns.  It was the sort of program that just grabs your heart, makes you feel tender and teary.

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One of the traits I've always admired about Mary?... her not sharing every single thing she knew about her Son.  She shed no light on the happenings as far as her own spiritual experiences.  She understood who this Child was and who his Father was and what the star, the angels, the shepherds, the adoration taking place and all of those current events, and events to come in the future were, and so much more and yet the scriptures tell us....

Luke- Chapter 2 (see vs. 19)

Heavenly messengers herald the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem....

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all ^athe world should be ^btaxed.

 2 (And this ^ataxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called ^aBethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

 5 To be taxed with Mary his ^aespoused wife, being great with child.

 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

 7 And she brought forth her ^afirstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the ^binn.

 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the ^aglory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you ^agood tidings of great ^bjoy, which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is ^aborn this day in the city of David a ^bSaviour, which is Christ the ^cLord.

 12 And this shall be a ^asign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14 ^aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth ^bpeace, good will toward men.

 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with ^ahaste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18 And all they that heard it ^awondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 19 But Mary kept all these things, and ^apondered them in her heart.

 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

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There are women, RS sisters, friends of mine that have pondered things in their hearts, about the challenges their children struggle with.  They love their children, don't complain, make the best of extremely difficult parenting roles (from my perspective) and do all they can to give their children wonderful lives.  

I will share three of their stories tomorrow.  These women know what their children are dealing with and I've always felt, if the rest of us knew what was going on, then maybe we could help in some way.  Maybe by just reaching out and speaking to the children and greeting them and being extra kind? 

 Tomorrow-....in their hearts-Part 2