Merry Christmas

I have intentionally not posted for a few weeks because I couldn't say anything nice; it is Christmas after all and I didn't want to ruin the spirit :)

I haven't wanted to be grumpy during this beautiful season.

I have been trying to think about my Savior. IT IS His birthday we are celebrating. Have we given Him a gift? Have we been less selfish? Less prideful? Less greedy? Less grumpy (I didn't post because I was grumpy!)?

There is SO very much to be worried and grumpy about to be sure. But let's put that aside for now; let's let the spirit of Christmas wash over us, and help us feel safe and secure for just a little while.

In that Spirit, I do have something to write about.

Yesterday in Church a lady gave a talk on giving. I know, it seems a "no brainer", and an "easy" talk to give at Christmas. Despite that, it made me teary. She talked about not having been able to feel the Christmas Spirit. Her house was in tumult because her daughter and son-in-law finally found a house, and were moving out. Her Christmas decorations were buried under said daughter and son-in-laws "stuff" in the garage. She just was grumpy and to top it off, her mom needed to go to Costco. Because we've had the miracle of snow here in Oregon, she didn't want to drive. So the good Sister took her mom to Costco, and not especially willingly. They shopped, they had lunch, they talked.

It was a gift she hadn't planned on giving.

She said that all her siblings who live out of state have been calling HER to find out "What does Mom want"? My friend said that all her mom REALLY wants is time. Time with her family. Time with loved ones and friends. In other words, nothing she or any of them could buy.

Not coincidentally, this matches up with the type of gifts we can give the Savior. We can serve selflessly. We can offer our shoulders. We can complain less, and do more.

The Lord asks much of us, but gives us strength in the doing. The more we do for the Kingdom, the stronger and more capable we become.

It's my hope and my prayer that we can, in this fearful, socialistic time that's headed our way (see, I couldn't do it!!), be calm. That we will remember the Lord is in charge. If we can remember that, then we can let go, and try to serve our fellowman more freely. Remember Jacob Marley's words to Ebeneezer Scrooge--"MANKIND was my business". I highly recommend watching the movie of "A Christmas Carol". Any version will do, but I love the Patrick Stewart version. Watch Scrooge change, then find ways to change and grow also.

We'll be watching tomorrow night, care to join us?