My "Piping Santa" ornament from my sister Stacey
I am packing up Christmas, and sweeping up the needles.
There was a sweetness this year I haven't remembered for a very long time, almost as wonderful as when I was little, and I just didn't want to put it away.
The difference this year was in me.
There is always so much to do, and so many things I want to do, it's hard to fit it all in. This year however, I worried less about gifts and the tangibles, and whether everyone was happy or not, and enjoyed the little things, every one that I could... from the beautiful music and sitting quietly beside the lighted tree, to the City's Christmas party, enjoying a wonderful dinner with my fellow "librarians". I even made time to attend a friend's dramatic reading of Dickens' Christmas Carol complete with caroling. I loved it all. But the sweetest?
After 9 years my sister's husband finally received the answers and witness he was seeking, and we watched him enter the waters of baptism Dec. 21. "There is no greater gift you could give yourself John," his bishop told him, "or to your wife and family, or to the Savior himself, than the gift of your self, your whole soul." It was wonderful, and it changed me!
The difference this year was in me.
There is always so much to do, and so many things I want to do, it's hard to fit it all in. This year however, I worried less about gifts and the tangibles, and whether everyone was happy or not, and enjoyed the little things, every one that I could... from the beautiful music and sitting quietly beside the lighted tree, to the City's Christmas party, enjoying a wonderful dinner with my fellow "librarians". I even made time to attend a friend's dramatic reading of Dickens' Christmas Carol complete with caroling. I loved it all. But the sweetest?
After 9 years my sister's husband finally received the answers and witness he was seeking, and we watched him enter the waters of baptism Dec. 21. "There is no greater gift you could give yourself John," his bishop told him, "or to your wife and family, or to the Savior himself, than the gift of your self, your whole soul." It was wonderful, and it changed me!
Our beautiful little tree is now out at the curb for compost, and everything is waiting to be packed up and stored away, but I don't feel the sadness as in the past. Instead I am carrying that sweet feeling with me somehow. It's still here!
I know there are so many good things that await us through the coming year... the knowledge of that gives me such hope and pleasure, and then, Christmas will come again!
I know there are so many good things that await us through the coming year... the knowledge of that gives me such hope and pleasure, and then, Christmas will come again!
I am inspired by your lovely Christmas. I wish I could have been at John's baptism. I'm sure it was a tender experience.
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DeleteIt was dearest! And you will be here in a few weeks!!
I had an insight this year as I was putting my Christmas away and thinking of the year to come. How perfect to be focused on the Savior and His power in our lives as we look ahead to a new year and how we want to try and be a little better. I am so happy for your sister and her husband. What a beautiful Christmas gift.
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