I love Christmas, I really do. I have to admit, I love the commercial stuff. I love the songs about reindeer, Santa hanging out in the mall, the lights and just the general excitement in the air. It's a lovely time of year. A little too hectic for me to handle all the time, but for a couple months I love it.
But the whole world knows that part of Christmas and, hopefully, they know the other parts too. For me, Christmas is two things: our Savior Jesus Christ and Family.
There's nothing I love more than the fact that Christmas brings family and friends together. Christmas morning and no one has anywhere to go. In our family, tradition is important. And for us, tradition means rules.
Rule #1 Family members must remain in their pajamas for breakfast and present openings. And showering is a no-no. (This rule is routinely broken by...almost everyone.)
Rule #2 Presents may only be opened after breakfast and breakfast ends when Dad has finished (juice and all - he annually threatens to drink his juice with a fork).
Rule #3 The agonizing Christmas Family Photo. Perhaps one of the reasons that many don't adhere to the first rule.
Um...there are probably more rules, but I'm usually the one that needs to be reminded of them.
Family is important though. There's nothing better than having them all happy and nearby.
One example: I love my brothers. A couple weeks ago, I was struggling. Life is great, but it's hard to recognize the great parts if you don't have some crappy stuff thrown in. Making a long story short and leaving out the gossipy details ('cuz I'm not that kind of girl), I got hurt. My brothers came to my aid in a big way. My older brother offered to egg the offender's house. Seems silly but it meant more than I can say. My other brother found me one day, red-eyed, lying huddled in bed, the covers pulled over my head. He told me to get up and come watch an episode of Psych (laughter is the best medicine), but I refused, determined to remain in my misery. Well...he flipped the covers off me, grabbed my wrists and dragged me (literally) out of bed, across the room, down the hall and thudding down the stairs. Where we watched Psych. And I laughed. And I felt better. Just a bit.
Can't ask for better brothers.
But there is another brother that I love more than anyone. Our brother Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate every year.
I know that every year every Christian on the planet gets the "Remember the Reason for the Season" sermon, but it's true. The holiday spirit you find at the mall is nice, but there's nothing better than the Spirit felt during "O Come All ye Faithful" or reading the story of His birth in the New Testament.
Because the baby Jesus came to earth to do the will of His Father. To save us if we will come unto Him. To provide us the potential of eternal life, to live again after we leave this world. Can you say greatest gift of God to His children? (D&C 14:7)
Christmas time is so magically because of what it represents: hope, love, forgiveness, joy, grace, peace and, of course, family. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we believe that families can be forever. That whole "til death do us part"...what a bunch of hooey. Why in the world would Heavenly Father bless us with a life full of living and loving friends and family if we're separated when we die? He wouldn't.
So He sent His Son to remind us of the Gospel that was taught by Adam, Abraham, Moses and many other prophets. And He sent His Son, born to the virgin Mary, to atone for our sins. And if we obey His commandments, live as He asks, we will be sealed - connected, united - with our families FOREVER! So, basically, we celebrate Christmas because Christ came to earth to make it possible for us to feel the Christmas Spirit and enjoy it with our families for all of time and eternity.
Here's a verse of scripture that I love. Give it a read tomorrow in honor of the first and best Christmas Eve:
"Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." 3 Nephi 1:13
(From the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ)
I sure love Christmas. And I love my family. Thank you, to God the Father and His Son for giving me the opportunity to have both.
Geronimo. And God bless us.
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