Mary pondered in her heart
The angels' glorious lay;
The Saviour of the world they said
Had come with joy that day—
Glory to God in the highest,
Good will to men
And on earth peace, rejoicingly
They caroled then.
The shepherds spread abroad
The angels' joyous song;
They sang the Saviour's praises;
To all did he belong.
But Mary pondered in her heart
The Saviour's birth,
These wondrous tidings she kept close,
Away from earth.
The manger and the swaddling clothes,
Humility and love,
How Mary must have pondered them
In thanking God above—
"Fear not," the angel sang to all,
The shepherds listening heard
And followed where the angels led
That they might see the Lord.
And Mary listened too that night
And dwelt upon the Word.
The multitude of praise sank deep,
Her heart within her stirred—
But Mary wise, her every thought
Yearningly one with good,
Held sweet communion o'er these things,
Making them daily food.
And Mary pondered in her heart,
Loving from day to day
The God who gave this wondrous Son
To show the living way.
