Tomorrow we celebrate a special day! Our kids are so anxious to open presents and play with new toys. But we have one present to open tomorrow that is the best of all. Every year we wrap a box and write a message: our gift to Jesus. We promise to do something all month to honor and be like Him. Some examples have been: be nice to my sister, or do chores without complaining, etc. They may forget here and there, but they do make a noticeable effort to be kinder to each other and more obedient.
My gift this year (while enduring the waiting) was to have faith that Heavenly Father has a plan for our family and to accept and follow that plan. It is clear now which path we are to take. We will always have a special memory of our 4th child, but now we can move forward with the three beautiful children that are still here with us. They too, have sacrificed so much along the way. There have been and are still to come, so many teaching moments in this trial. It has brought us closer together as a family.
Whatever your beliefs, my hope is that we can all show more love and compassion to those around us. Not just in the next few days, try to carry the holiday spirit with you into the new year. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives. We love and appreciate you all and wish you a Merry Christmas!
The Nelsons
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
-Christina Rossetti-
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.
How much better the world would be if we all gave gifts of understanding and compassion, of service and friendship, of kindness and gentleness.
President Thomas S. Monson
You can read his entire talk here
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