Third Friday of Advent: Treasuring Up
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
—Luke 2:19
In 2009, I walked into school to hear people talking about the passing of one of our classmates, Sarah Hurley. At first, I didn’t realize who she was, but later that day, I came across a poster with her face on it.
Students had put up the signs and started a prayer squad after Sarah’s car accident. On the day she died, I realized that although I hadn’t known her last name, I did know Sarah. Looking at her picture was so heartbreaking.
You see, growing up, I didn't have many friends, and so the ones I had were extremely dear to me. Sarah was my friend. I first met her through a class that we had in high school, and she was kind, sweet, and completely genuine. She was one of the few peers that I could trust.
As I stared at her image on this poster, I was in denial, but I wanted so badly to honor her memory. I decided to go to this prayer squad, even though I hated everything about God—if there was even a god.
So on a brisk morning, I got to school and walked onto our football field to join the group of students gathered, standing together and singing songs. As I drew closer to the group, I saw one of the students, Blake, step out from the crowd and walk towards me. I was suspicious, but this very interaction changed everything I knew about what friendship could mean.
Blake was tenacious. From that day on, he would invite me to lunch and to church. Blake wanted to be my friend, but I was an absolute jerk because I believed the narrative that I was unlovable. One day, I finally, begrudgingly, said “yes”—mostly because I was so annoyed!
That was the best “yes” I have ever said in my life.
That “yes” took me from being a loner who didn't trust others to a person who would know friendship like never before. I went from connecting with Blake to meeting four other guys in my school who are my friends to this day! Fifteen years later, I don't know where I would be without these five guys—and it all started from a conversation on a football field, with one guy who would not stop inviting me until I had to say “yes.”
In the beginning of the book of Luke, we are told on three different occasions that Mary, the mother of Jesus, “treasured up all these things in her heart.” This is a statement that has always been profound to me. I believe wholeheartedly that in order to experience the love that God has set out for us, we need to take everything that we experience from God and treasure these things in our hearts as anchors for our souls to be satisfied in Jesus.
For the past month, I have found myself pondering the story of how these five friends came into my life. Every single time I reflect deeply upon this one experience, I believe this is my way of treasuring these things in my heart, over and over again.
Our friendship was, and still is, imperfect. I can hardly fathom a friendship without any sin or brokenness! But as I ponder, I also look forward to the day when I am with my friends forever in the kingdom of God. This is what gives me hope as I wait in this place that we all find ourselves—the space in-between the shattered creation and Jesus, in our midst, restoring all things to himself.
What does it look like to take time to reflect on the things that God has done in your life, so much so that you treasure those things in your heart? Remember, if God showed up once before, he will do it again!
This Advent season, join me in treasuring the goodness of God in our hearts as we wait for the kingdom of God to be fully realized.
—Antonio Morton serves as a CCO Volunteer, reaching out to students at Messiah University and his alma mater, Shippensburg University.
—Luke 2:19
In 2009, I walked into school to hear people talking about the passing of one of our classmates, Sarah Hurley. At first, I didn’t realize who she was, but later that day, I came across a poster with her face on it.
Students had put up the signs and started a prayer squad after Sarah’s car accident. On the day she died, I realized that although I hadn’t known her last name, I did know Sarah. Looking at her picture was so heartbreaking.
You see, growing up, I didn't have many friends, and so the ones I had were extremely dear to me. Sarah was my friend. I first met her through a class that we had in high school, and she was kind, sweet, and completely genuine. She was one of the few peers that I could trust.
As I stared at her image on this poster, I was in denial, but I wanted so badly to honor her memory. I decided to go to this prayer squad, even though I hated everything about God—if there was even a god.
So on a brisk morning, I got to school and walked onto our football field to join the group of students gathered, standing together and singing songs. As I drew closer to the group, I saw one of the students, Blake, step out from the crowd and walk towards me. I was suspicious, but this very interaction changed everything I knew about what friendship could mean.
Blake was tenacious. From that day on, he would invite me to lunch and to church. Blake wanted to be my friend, but I was an absolute jerk because I believed the narrative that I was unlovable. One day, I finally, begrudgingly, said “yes”—mostly because I was so annoyed!
That was the best “yes” I have ever said in my life.
That “yes” took me from being a loner who didn't trust others to a person who would know friendship like never before. I went from connecting with Blake to meeting four other guys in my school who are my friends to this day! Fifteen years later, I don't know where I would be without these five guys—and it all started from a conversation on a football field, with one guy who would not stop inviting me until I had to say “yes.”
In the beginning of the book of Luke, we are told on three different occasions that Mary, the mother of Jesus, “treasured up all these things in her heart.” This is a statement that has always been profound to me. I believe wholeheartedly that in order to experience the love that God has set out for us, we need to take everything that we experience from God and treasure these things in our hearts as anchors for our souls to be satisfied in Jesus.
For the past month, I have found myself pondering the story of how these five friends came into my life. Every single time I reflect deeply upon this one experience, I believe this is my way of treasuring these things in my heart, over and over again.
Our friendship was, and still is, imperfect. I can hardly fathom a friendship without any sin or brokenness! But as I ponder, I also look forward to the day when I am with my friends forever in the kingdom of God. This is what gives me hope as I wait in this place that we all find ourselves—the space in-between the shattered creation and Jesus, in our midst, restoring all things to himself.
What does it look like to take time to reflect on the things that God has done in your life, so much so that you treasure those things in your heart? Remember, if God showed up once before, he will do it again!
This Advent season, join me in treasuring the goodness of God in our hearts as we wait for the kingdom of God to be fully realized.
—Antonio Morton serves as a CCO Volunteer, reaching out to students at Messiah University and his alma mater, Shippensburg University.