Obsession seems to be a part of my framework---at least the themes of my blog.
Word search followed. Synonyms to expand my understanding, i.e. are there degrees of pondering?
Choose. Dance. Please God. Tea. Alliterative phrases and palindromic words. Alphabetical order.
On Wednesdays, I am often all about words. This past week started out with "ponder" as seen in a text from a friend.
What do I ponder? Why? Who knows? Reasons vary.
How do I ponder? Awareness of the word. Sometimes it pops out in a scripture or on a sign.
"Ponder resources"---Old school Merriam Webster used---you know the hard copy that has resided bedside since college days--- my first was a high school graduation gift from my Aunt Dot Seay. Pretty obvious I am her namesake!
Parts of speech are usually first in my pursuit. Inflections, ponders, pondering pondered, i.e. verb tenses. are same as inflections-- Verb, intransitive.
Library book found......I saw it on the title of a book, as if used as an adjective. Then I started the book and Ponder was a noun. The Ponders were a family in Eudora Welty's novella, The Ponder Heart (I'm only beginning to read this because, of course, the title intrigued me.) Already I have seen ponders used as an adjective as it describes the generous heart of Daniel Ponder.
Defintions--appraise, think about, weigh in the mind.
On-line dictionary used when ease of "pasting " is needed.
Word search followed. Synonyms to expand my understanding, i.e. are there degrees of pondering?
Synonyms pasted Synonyms for ponderchew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)
Scripture search ensued....6 found in NIV concordance--explorations of different versions later.
One verse stood out. Psalm 107:43 (NIV w/ ESV additions)
Whoever is wise, let him heed (attend to ) these things, and (let them consider) ponder the loving deeds n( steadfast love of the LORD. (Yahweh)
More musing and reflecting---which sent me down a rabbit hole of soul stillness--the connection between my soul pondering and God's steadfast love. (Steadfast is My One Word for 2021) But that's pondering for another time!