I have thought quite a bit about Mary this Christmas season, especially the part at the end of the Christmas story we read in Luke 2 where it says, “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Reading is one of my favorite pastimes. It has been my entire life. I think my love for writing really derived from my love for reading. Reading a good story makes it so easy to appreciate well-constructed words. How those words bring to life characters and add color and light to a subject is truly the mark of a good story for me, and ultimately what determines a story worth my time.

It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again: The twinkle lights, shiny wrapping paper, elaborate gifts and noise of the holiday season don't matter. We celebrate because our Saviour came to Earth.