Do You Have Room

We only have about 30 minutes left of Christmas Day and I feel I need to record some of my feelings before the Christmas season passes. This year I tried really hard to focus on the Savior and his birth, ministry and resurrection. I did my scripture reading from the 4 gospels and listened to the religious christmas songs. I taught a lesson to all the YW on the true meaning behind the symbols of Christmas and how they relate back to Christ. I was able to sing "Oh Holy Night" in our ward Christmas program. So I had a lot of really great opportunities to thinking of Christ and the real meaning of Christmas. But boy did I get caught up in the commercialism and stress of the holiday seasons and I hope it to be a lesson for next year. From Thanksgiving on I was focused on finding the right present for everyone on my list, baking bread, making christmas cards (which I still haven't sent out to everyone yet...), doing Christmas activities in NYC, baking every type of cookie and what I was making/bringing for various Christmas get togethers. I simply did TO MUCH! Because of that I really feel like I got cheated out of Christmas. As I was wrapping Mikes gifts the other night, I was watching the Grinch and Cindy Loo asks her dad "Don't you think it's all just a bit much" and he responds "NO! Christmas is all about the presents sweetie." I looked at Mikes growing stack of gifts and felt a tiny little ping of sadness. Sure I was trying to keep Christ in Christmas but still even then I lost my way and it became all about the gifts, baked goods and get together...

Luckily I noticed my mistake and tried to correct it. My amazingly talented friend Corinne sang this song to the youth at mutual this wednesday and it really touched my heart. I have the video of it posted below and it is worth your time. But if not, here is the chorus.

Do you have room for the Savior

and do you seek him a new

have you a place for the one who lived

and died for you

are you as humble as a shepherd boy

or as wise as men of old

would you have come that night

would you have sought the light

do you have room?

That really made me think about my relationship with the Savior. Have I done my best to give him "room" in my life this year. Have I done all I can to have sought his light? And am I as humble as I should be? It was a lot to think about and process, but I have made a resolution to seek him more diligently this coming year AND next Christmas to simplify all that I do. Just spend my time focusing on how I can serve as the Savior did.

Another Christmas song that was in my mind a lot was the primary song "Picture Christmas"

Picture a stable in Judea

Picture a sacred, silent night

And can you hear the angels near

And see the star so bright?

Chorus:

Picture the little baby Jesus.

Think of his life and words so dear

Sing praise to Him; Remember Him,

As you picture Christmas this year

The lyrics like all the Children's songs are so beautifully simple. I was able to spend a lot of time on Christmas eve thinking about the first Christmas Eve when Christ was born and the new star shown and the angles sang.(I hope I was one of those angles who announced the heavenly birth!)

I'm so grateful for the gift of the Savior that our Father in Heaven gave to us so many years ago. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas. I hope you were able to focus on Christ a little better than I did.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!!