The Real Christmas Cheer

One thing that strikes me most about Christmas is spending it with our loved ones. With loving words echoing throughout the home, with arms wide open to love and embrace one another. To be more forgiving of one another and mostly, to be willing to try and see things more like the savior. It's something about the majesty of celebrating his birth that brings about miraculous things that allow us, the children of men to love more freely. To cherish one another more freely. The birth of this babe has caused such goodness and love to be spread so vastly throughout the world. Our families gather to honor and praise his birth and to give thanks to him for the over abundance he has provided in our families.

Christmas is a time of great reflection within ourselves, within our families, and within the world around us. People give more freely of the money they earn no matter how meager that may be. People extend themselves to bake cookies for loved ones, friends, and even strangers. People want in on the action of Christmas that brings man such joy into their hearts. I am so grateful for this time of year. It is so important for each of us to reflect on our lives and how we can learn and improve ourselves. To draw closer to the Savior, to honor him and his life in the coming year more fully. It's the birth of Jesus Christ that brings us such joy and happiness.

How grateful I am for that little baby that was the king of all the world who would redeem us all of sin, was born in the most humblest of circumstances in Bethlehem. How humbled I am that he in all of his holiness was not born of fine linen, gold, or worldly riches (which would be expected at the birth of such a majestic being.)  He was born to loving parents and in a manger he laid with straw and animals abound. If he, the Master and Savior of us all was born in these circumstances, than who am I to have any earthly possession? He is the exemplar in every sense of the word of how we are supposed to be. He shows us by example that the important things in life are not seen by man. Surely he brings glad tidings of great joy to my soul, and makes me want to shout hosannah for knowing him as my Lord. He has brought life and light into my soul that can never be replaced by any worldly thing. I am grateful for his life and his death which makes it possible to return home to our Father in Heaven one day. I am grateful that I live in a country that allows me to freely worship him and his Father. He is the best friend to all of us. He knows us intimately, even more than we know ourselves. In sunshine and in shadow he is there to assure and smile upon us. May each of us remember the 'sunshine' he brings into our lives, and slow down enough to see the light he brings into our lives. It's not the fancy things that gives us joy, it's him that brings us the ultimate joy that will last throughout eternity. I'll forever be grateful for that baby Jesus that has impacted my life more than any other person to ever walk this earth. May each of you be able to live more fully in the JOY that only he can offer each of us!

Merry Christmas to each of you!