The True Spirit of Christmas!

For those of you who know me well, you know how much I love Christmas time. It is absolutely my favorite time of the year! I love the goodies, decor, caroling(even though I don't sing well or harmonize well with my hubby). I think my most favorite part though is giving gifts. I love to think of things all year long that I can do for others during this time of year. With money so tight sometimes I wonder how I can make it all happen but every year I find a way.

I think of the gift that our savior gave us. His life. It definetly puts things in perspective. All the hustle and bustle and holiday shopping that is done. It makes me stop and think often of how the savior would be if he were here with us. I love this time of year mostly I think due to the compassion that I feel for those around me. Those close, and those that need help, those that are far away,and those that I am not even aware of that I have touched their lives in someway or another. Christmas time can definetly be stressful if you let it. But I know that by letting the savior by apart of our lifes, it takes that all away.

There’s Christmas in the home and church,

There’s Christmas in the mart;

But you’ll not know what Christmas is Unless it’s in your heart.
The bells may call across the snow,

And carols search the air;

But, oh, the heart will miss the thrill Unless it’s Christmas there.

(Taken from a talk given by Pres. Monson)

Remember that we have all been given compassion and love at some point in our lives. Remember how you felt when it was given and give a true gift this Christmas; Love!

Know that we are all children of God, that he loves us all; and that someday we will all have to return and tell all that we have done, and it's not our jobs, and how much money we made, or what we were able to buy that is important. Its the time we took to help those around us, whether in own families, or around the world. Our thoughts, our actions, our intents of our hearts.