First things first: Merry Christmas.
This has been a crazy season so filled with projects it seems the month has zoomed by. I don’t have a very long shopping list, and my laptop’s been in for repairs for ages (finally got it back on Monday) which means I didn’t make it onto my favorite Internet radio site to listen to Christmas music much–KZION.com.
I have at least four Nativity sets (Now if I can only find the white one, where did I put it last January?), and with one thing and the next, I’ve heard a lot about remembering Christ’s birth this season. The ward Christmas program was nice, sweet. My annual involvement in my community performance of Handel’s Messiah was totally enjoyable, the solos gorgeous, the music breathtaking, but I don’t remember focusing on the words, the meaning behind them.
It wasn’t until earlier tonight (or should I say, last night, it is nearly one in the morning), as I sat around my parent’s living room, surround by family with a toddler running wild, and the other girls fidgety and active that I really listened to the message of the scriptures, the meaning of the familiar Christmas hymns.
I tend to veer away from discussing serious topics on my blog–it’s much easier to talk about my latest hatch, gardening techniques, or silly tags from my friends, than to write about things that matter to me. This Christmas day, however, I want to express how grateful I am for Christ coming to Earth to show us how to live, to teach us His Father’s gospel, to provide the only way for us to return to live with Him again.
I have a long, long way to go before I could even begin to be worthy of his great sacrifice, or of the many blessings he has bestowed me with, but knowing the gift of forgiveness is there for me gives me hope.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, have the chance to tell your loved ones how much you love them, and give thanks to the Lord for all he has blessed you with, remembering the true meaning of Christmas–that we can all have the chance to return to live with our Father again because he sent his Son to lead the way.
Bless you all.