It's officially the month of Christmas!

It’s officially the Month of Christmas! 

We made it!  It is finally upon us – Christmas month in December has begun.  My favorite holiday of the entire year.  I even stayed up late wrapping some gifts last night. I have a hard time going to bed early because there is so much I need to do and not to mention that tomorrow we are going to give a talk. 

As this is my first blog post during the Christmas season I wanted to take a moment to share what I feel to be the most important part of Christmas – Christ.  I think the following excerpt expresses it best: 

“Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done. We find the real joy of Christmas when we make the Savior the focus of the season. 

Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He lived for us, and He died for us. What can we, in return, give to Him? 

I love the words penned by the English poet Christina Rossetti: 

What can I give Him, 

Poor as I am? 

If I were a shepherd 

I would bring a lamb.

 If I were a Wise Man 

I would do my part, 

Yet what can I give Him? 

Give my heart. 

Our celebration of Christmas should be a reflection of the love and selflessness taught by the Savior. Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. We feel more kindly one to another. We reach out in love to help those less fortunate. Our hearts are softened. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.”  – Thomas Monson 

May we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and may we celebrate the holiday in a way that pays tribute to Him and the sacrifice he made for all of us.  I think the best way to do that is to follow the advice given in this statement: “If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments”  – Howard W. Hunter 

I believe that magic happens at Christmas.  I truly do. And may all of us remember the person whose birth we celebrate, Jesus Christ. 

Con amor,

Vero