Luke 2:15–20

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. LUKE 2:19

After all the joy of Christmas Day, the following day felt like a let-down. We’d stayed overnight with friends but hadn’t slept well. Then our car broke down as we were driving home. Then it started to rain. We had abandoned the car and got a taxi home in the rain and wet, feeling a little depressed.

We’re not the only ones who’ve felt low after Christmas Day. Whether it’s from excessive eating or the fact that the gifts we bought last week are now on sale half price, the magic of Christmas Day can quickly disappear!

The Bible never tells us about the day after Jesus’ birth. But we can imagine that after walking to Bethlehem, scrambling for accommodation, Mary’s pain in giving birth, and having shepherds drop by unannounced (LUKE 2:4–18), Mary and Joseph were exhausted. Yet as Mary cradled her newborn, I can imagine her reflecting on her angelic visitation (1:30–33), Elizabeth’s blessing (VV. 42–45) and her own realisation of her baby’s destiny (VV. 46–55). Mary “pondered” such things in her heart (2:19), which must’ve lightened the tiredness and physical pain of that day.

We’ll all have depressed days, perhaps in the build-up to Christmas or in the days after. Like Mary, let’s face them by pondering the One who came into our world, forever brightening it with His presence.

When are you prone to feeling low after a high? How can you ponder today all that Jesus has brought into the world?

Dear Jesus, I praise You for entering our dark world, forever brightening my days with Your presence.