One night last week, PB and I drove out to Devil’s Lake State Park.  After a busy day, we like to go to the lake to soak up the natural beauty and unwind.  Sometimes we walk around the lake or climb the bluffs, but occasionally we do my personal favorite: sit on a picnic table and look at the water.

That evening, a young family happened to stroll by and PB struck up a friendly conversation.  We talked about their dog, a retired racing greyhound.  While we chatted, their little girl ran up and down the path and their young son dug in the dirt with a stick.  Before they moved on, the mom asked her boy if he was writing his name in the dirt.  He replied that he was marking the spot with an X because there was treasure buried there.  She smiled at her little guy and then explained to us that he had been leaving X’s all over the park.

The family began to walk toward the parking lot when PB leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Watch this.”  Then my hubby took two quarters out of his pocket, placed them on the X and kicked a little dirt over them.   “Excuse me!” he called out. “There’s something here!”  The boy stopped in his tracks, raced over to the spot and bent down to see if it was true.  A look of wonder came over his face as he picked up the coins.  He began to jump up and down, shouting, “Treasure!  I got treasure!”

I looked over at PB and thought, “I got some treasure, too.”

“He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”  Proverbs 11:25

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Luke 2:19

Oh, Mary, I completely understand.  These past few weeks, I have been doing a lot of treasuring and pondering.  No writing, but lots of treasuring and pondering.  I’m finding it hard to put words to it all.  Perhaps that’s best — Mary held her remembrances “dear, deep within her heart” both at her son’s birth (Luke 2:19) and twelve years later when she and Joseph found Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:51).  I suspect she did a lot of treasuring in between, too.  Years later, when Luke was gathering information for his gospel, Mary must have provided him with details of that wondrous night in Bethlehem when she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes.  Who else would have been able to describe that event so vividly?  As Luke took notes, Mary was able to go deep in her heart to retrieve those precious memories.

Unlike mothers in Biblical times, I have photographs and home videos to pull out when I want to take a walk down memory lane.  I have Skype and Instagram and Facebook and a smart phone.  But there’s something about those “snapshots” that are embedded in the heart — such riches.

Here are a few recent images I’ve filed away, dear and deep:

My son pledging his life to his beautiful bride and braiding three cords together while wiping sweat from his brow and tears from his eyes.

My older daughter’s rich mellow voice drifting over the ocean breeze, singing a love song with the sweetness of a mother’s lullaby.

My younger daughter reading about the significance of the three strands, her slightly rounded belly holding promise of a soon-to-be family of three.

My younger son standing to toast the groom, stumbling over his words a bit, but sure and strong in his admiration of his big brother.

And of course, Hudson –watching him figure out how to crawl, then chasing him everywhere.  Also, his delight in the sound of potato chips crunching in my mouth.  I would have eaten a whole bag full of chips just to hear his belly laugh after each munch.  Wait, I did eat a whole bag of chips.  And it was so worth it.

And my last snapshot: at the end of the festivities and receptions and houseful of family, PB and I reveling in the quiet, looking at each other and saying. “We did it.”   So glad it comes back around to just him and me once more.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

Thursday night the Packers played the Bears at 7:20 p.m. CT.  At 6:15 p.m., realization hit that the game was only on the NFL Network — which we don’t get.  After a few moments of wide-eyed angst, PB did what he does so well.  He took charge, called the 800 number for our cable company, and sweet talked the lady into giving us the NFL Network.  For free.  Gosh, I love that man. 

Evidently, a few weeks ago, we received a notice in the mail from the cable company announcing that several channels were being added to our lineup.  And that wasn’t all!  For such loyal customers as PB and I, the monthly charge was actually being dropped by several dollars.  All we needed to do was to call in or go to the web site and verify our address. 

Evidently, I threw the notice away.  But I’m secretly kind of glad, because PB got to come off looking like a hero.  In a matter of minutes, we were watching the pre-game show and reveling in the fact that his great charm got us 100 new channels for $10 less per month.  We hit the jackpot.  And I was going to settle for listening to the game on the radio.  Geesh.

I probably settle for less more than I realize.  God offers a pretty sweet deal, but I only take Him up on small parts of it.

Eternal life?  Great!  And blessings here on earth besides?  What? 

Peace of mind?  Wonderful!  But joy and purpose and security too?  Really? 

Forgiveness and grace?  I’ll take it!  Plus Holy Spirit power?  Come on.

God is the jackpot.  I don’t have to charm anything out of Him — He offers so much more than I even know.   I just need to tune in.