CHRISTMAS FEELING

I have to admit that I am having a really hard time getting into Christmas this year. It may be because I have a big U mowed into my back lawn (see the below post) or the fact that I am wearing shorts and a t-shirt right at this very moment. Last year we had a green Christmas as well and I was still excited, I think it was the novelty of being in a new place and experiencing new things. Well this year I am not excited at all - in fact I wish that Christmas would just come and go.

Well thanks to my friend Carli who spoke in Church today. I was totally touched by the Spirit as she spoke about the true meaning of Christmas. Carli is such an eloquent speaker - I am sure that comes from the fact that she has a degree in literature and really should write her own books (hint, hint). I was touched by her words, but mostly by this quote she read from President Hinckley,

"Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches out beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful. It is peace. It is the peace which comforts, which sustains, which blesses all who accept it. It is faith. It is faith in God and His Eternal Son. It is faith in His wondrous ways and message. It is faith in Him as our Redeemer and our Lord. We testify of His living reality. We testify of the divinity of His nature. In our times of grateful meditation, we acknowledge His priceless gift to us and pledge our love and faith. This is what Christmas is really about."

I was reminded that Christmas has nothing to do with the weather outside - whether the ground is covered in white stuff or the grass is green and soft. It has nothing to do with all the things to do on my list. Christmas is so much more than that. It is about the Savior. I know we teach this to our children, but it is good to be reminded of it as well even as an adult.