Everyone has them, those little keepsakes that clutter our desk drawers, or that we squirrel away in old shoe boxes. No one else sees them, and when we are gone, we know they will become nothing more than clutter to someone else.
However, to us, they are the memories that make up our lives.
Hidden keepsakes, the unseen collections that give us purpose and connection with our world, are in every house and in every heart. Some people keep their collections in a small, decorative box, and for others, the memories fill their houses, overflowing into every room.
Mary, the wife of Joseph, had been given the prophecy of all prophecies. In Matthew 1:23 the Scriptures foretold of a virgin birth, and a son named Emmanuel, meaning God with us.
That prophecy was Mary’s rock to hold to while her child grew within her, hidden from the world.
That was Keepsake #1.
When Jesus was twelve, the family traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate three feasts: The Feast of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits.
When they were on the journey home, Jesus could not be found. Where was he? In the temple, speaking words of wisdom with the priests.
Luke 2:51 tells us Jesus returned home with his parents, but the incident was not forgotten, not by his mother. Rather, the Scriptures tell us his mother kept all his sayings in her heart.
That was Keepsake #2.
At the end of Jesus’ earthly life, he hung on a cross, battered and bruised. Yet, even in his pain and torment, his earthly mother was not forgotten. His concerns were for those he loved and who loved him.
We read in John 19:26, 27 Jesus’ final words to his mother.
“Woman, this is your son.” Then he speaks to John. “This is your mother.”
Even in the moment of his death, he showed great love for his mother, ensuring that she was cared for even as she was alone.
That was Keepsake #3.
Mary’s keepsake box was her heart, and it was filled to the brim. When she had an off day, or life seemed to grind against her, all she had to do was open the lid, and there Jesus was all over again.
When we store up the good things of the Lord, then we will never forget how much he cares for us.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net