CHRISTMAS is three weeks from today!! As usual I feel there’s too much to do and too little time. For instance, I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas cards—I love getting them, and I love thinking of dear ones as I write them—I just hate getting started.
When I indulge these Scrooge-y thoughts, something inevitably reminds me of a helpless baby, born in a stable because there was no room for Him in the inn.
As a man, He invited, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” Matthew 11:28 He was deeply concerned with the plight of poor, ill, depressed and displaced people. When Jesus shared the Beatitudes, first on the list was: “Blessed are the poor in spirit. . ." KJV Matthew 5:3 Aren't we all poor in spirit--no matter how much is in our bank accounts?
A woman with “an issue of blood” was poor, having spent her money on doctors; she was likely anemic and weak, and probably smelled bad, because of the constant flow of blood in a warm climate. Yet she had faith that Jesus’s priesthood power would heal her, so she pushed through the crowd and touched the hem of his robe. Her blood ceased flowing—physically, she was whole—and she tried to disappear into the crowd. Sensing that His power had been tapped, and knowing that her heart needed more, He asked for her. When she came, he said, “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Luke 8: 43-48 Her heart was now healed, for she knew she was loved by her Creator as well as healed by Him. Don’t we all need to hear those words as we work through our problems and weaknesses? I do.
As Elder Holm and I help missionaries invite people to come unto Him, His nouns echo: “the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the blind, them that are bruised.” We’re surrounded by thousands of people who fit in these categories. Many are from foreign lands, looking for community, spiritual strength, and a better life in the United States. We missionaries are constantly amazed at the kindness, generosity and humility of these children of God. It’s a blessing to make room in our “spiritual inns” for them.
Whether or not my Christmas cards get written, may I focus on “Lighting the World” with the light of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. We hope all our friends have a wonderful Christmas!!
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| We have simple ornaments, all left behind by previous senior missionaries except for the small, beautiful olive wood Nativity purchased in Jerusalem and given to us by Alissa and Brad. |
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| Our 18 inch tree took five minutes to put up! |
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| This is the theater box where President Lincoln was sitting when he was shot. |
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| We watch "A Christmas Carol" every year. This year we saw it at Ford's Theater, along with our friends, the Connells! President Lincoln loved the theater and it's a fitting tribute to him that people still enjoy uplifting entertainment here--proof that good triumphs over evil. |
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