Mary treasured these things in her heart

Luke 2:19 but Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Being named for Mary, and dedicated at her altar as a baby, I read about her with a special connection. She loved God even as a child. As a probable teen, she accepted God's calling on her life, and as a mother loved Jesus as her son. Simeon told her that a sword will pierce through her own soul. When I read this my eyes water. I have not felt the sword of losing a child, but have felt a knife. Mother's love their sons. Mary would have rather Jesus grow up, maybe get a good carpenter business and marry so she could play with his children and as the first son, take care of her. God's plan was different. It is a hard pill to swallow when our plans for our children don't pan out the way we envisioned when we nurtured our baby and imagined their future. I constantly bring to my pondering that God loves them MORE than we do. Hard to conceive of this truth. This is where we must stand in faith, just like Mary.