We are still in the middle of the the black abyss with Christmas preparations. I have felt overwhelmed with so much to do and so little extra time to squeeze it all in to an already busy schedule. I feel with all the hustle of getting cards out, candy making for my visiting teachers and neighbors, planning a Christmas family dinner, attending all the Christmas functions, getting every ones presents bought, wrapped, and sent out by a certain time or they won't get there by Christmas day is all overshadowing why we really celebrate Christmas.
This year will only be the 2nd Christmas that my family will be home alone on Christmas Day. We have always gone to Wyoming or to my sister's house when she lived close to us. With the girls getting older it gets more expensive and more tricky every year to travel on Christmas. So we are starting some traditions this year in an effort to bring in the more spiritual side of the Christmas season. I want my girls to know that Christmas is not just about getting a bunch of presents under the tree. We are celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Christmas Day is celebrated because it is such an important and vital day for every human being. Where would we all be if it weren't for the birth of our Savior?
The other night I attended a Relief Society Christmas dinner and program. They had three different women in our ward talk to us about the birth of Christ, the life and miracles of Christ, and about Jesus' mother Mary. I have been thinking about the things I heard talked about ever since. How scared and overwhelmed it must have been for Mary at about 15 years old to have such a thing asked of her? She didn't know where they were going to go, she was alone with no medical or help from family, and she was in a dirty old animal stable giving birth to the Jesus Christ. Another thing that struck me was how humble Christ's circumstances were starting from his birth and all through his life. You would think that someone as wonderful as the Son of God would get the best of everything, and yet he got everything but that. So what makes us think we are all so important that we have to have the best of everything?
I am so thankful for a selfless and loving Savior that came to this earth willingly and knowing how hard his life would be here. But did it out of love for all of us. That is the real meaning of Christmas. I am going to try to focus more on that this year.
