Do you ever feel invisible?
I certainly do, at times. Oh, I have a wonderful family and a wonderful career. Great friends. I know I’m needed and make an impact in my little corner of the world. But, there are still times when I feel unseen. “Left on delivered” as my teens might say. My requests to complete chores fall on deaf ears. My sadness or frustration fall on oblivious eyes. My fatigue with the daily grind falls on unconcerned hearts.
I would venture to say that most women can relate.
And, if you are anything like me, it doesn’t stop there. You notice little things. Actions, a facial expression, the way a word is spoken. I believe women are perceptive. We may share these observations at times, but I believe more often than not we treasure these things away…
But can I share a little encouragement with you today? There are some little verses that have given me so much hope. Little verses that were like hidden gems when they first stood out to me.
Jesus had just been born. The shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem to check things out for themselves. Luke 2:16-19: “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (emphasis mine)
Later in that same chapter, the Bible records Jesus as a 12 year-old boy going to Jerusalem with his parents for the Festival of the Passover. Unbeknownst to his parents, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem while his parents headed back home with relatives and friends. His parents started looking for him among the group but realized he wasn’t with them. Luke 2:25-51: “When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions…His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ [Jesus replied] ‘Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’…Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” (emphasis mine)
What is precious to me is not that Mary observed these things and hid them in her heart. That makes complete sense. What amazes me is that God chose to include this in his Word. Among all the important events that were taking place in that chapter, God chose to include what was going on inside a mother’s heart. Which means He knows, He sees a mother’s heart. And what is in a mother’s heart is obviously very important to Him. Isn’t that amazing?
I am assured that He knows and sees what is in my heart, too. All the times that I am thinking, wondering, praying, observing…He sees it, too! And because I treasure these things in my heart, God treasures them, also. Today, be confident that even the unspoken parts of your heart are seen and treasured by a God who loves you.
and she treasures 