Mary, mother of Jesus
The Thoughtful Heart
- Imaginative
- Flexible
- Reserved
- Warm
Mary types hold on to moments and keep thinking about what they might mean. After the shepherds visited Jesus, Mary kept their words and pondered them in her heart.
An illustrative Big Five pattern. Further out means a stronger tendency; emotional balance varies from person to person.
A moment, a verse or a question stays with them after the conversation has moved on. They notice how the people around them are really doing and make time for them.
They can sit with a big question and still be fully there for a friend. Quiet time lets them take in what happened, which can help them return to a conversation with another question.
Strengths
Room to reflect
They do not rush past what happened, and they often understand a moment better a week later. Mary held on to words she did not yet understand and pondered them.
They go with it
They may be willing to explore another option when plans change. Taking a moment to check what they need can make that flexibility easier.
Recharging in quiet
They do not need to talk everything through straight away. Time alone gives their thoughts room to settle.
They spot the need
They notice when someone is left out or something has run short, and may want to ask what would help. At Cana, Mary saw that the wine had run out and told Jesus.
Watch-outs
You may keep reflecting instead of trying an idea
You may keep exploring what an idea could mean without finding out how it works. Try one small example and use what happens to guide your next step.
You may leave your thoughts unshared
You keep a lot inside, so friends may not know what you have been thinking. Tell one person one thing you have been pondering this week.
You may leave no time for yourself
You make time for everyone else, and your own needs can slip to the bottom. Keep one small slot in your week that is just for you.
Mary, mother of Jesus as a friend
As friends, Mary types often give a conversation time and return to something a friend said earlier. They may prefer listening closely to offering a quick answer.
Friends who ask what they have been thinking and leave room for the reply can help them share more of themselves.
What helps them feel close
- Friends who give them time to think before answering.
- Someone who asks how they are, since they are usually the one asking.
- A friend who comes back to a deep conversation instead of letting it drop.
In everyday life
Youth group
At youth group or on a team, they notice who is new and who is having a rough day. They bring the thoughtful comment that takes a discussion deeper.
School
They may appreciate time to reflect on what a topic means. A few notes, a journal entry or a conversation with a friend can give their questions a place to develop.
Faith
Their faith may look like keeping a verse or a moment close and coming back to it. God knows every question they hold and loves them fully before one is answered.
What experience would benefit from a little more reflection?
When the angel told Mary she would have a son, she asked, “How can this be?” After the shepherds came, Luke says she kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
Years later the twelve-year-old Jesus stayed behind in the temple, and his parents did not understand his answer, yet she kept it in her heart too. At a wedding in Cana she noticed that the wine had run out, and told Jesus.