Jesus Is Born!

Christmas has not gone up easily this year. I just can't seem to coordinate my energy levels with actual time to do it. This morning, since Z is finally feeling better and back at school and other activities have waned for a bit, I decided to push myself to finish what I had started with my lame extraction of the advent calendar on the first of the month.

Miss M has been a fabulous helper, bringing all the enthusiasm a four year old girl musters best in the world. With every nativity I unpacked (I have four), she yelled out with glee "Jesus is Born!" Yes, Jesus is born, with all the wonder, glory, peace and comfort that brings. He is born! I wish I could make myself remember that supernally important fact better on a daily basis. President Uchtdorf reminded us so powerfully in the General Relief Society meeting how we need to remember the why of the gospel and not just the some times crushing "whats." Christmas often brings more crushing whats these days than at other times of the year. DH is gone more with his church responsibilities; we know of so much need and want to address it all with toy drives, subs for santa, secret Christmas jars, and on and on. But in quiet moments, if I can just touch back to the good news of the gospel that Jesus is born, the why can wash over me and the whats settle themselves.

Last year for Christmas, we were surprised with the twelve days of Christmas from members of our ward. I can guess at some of the families who participated, but others I still, a year later, have no idea. The treats were yummy, the surprises each night (especially on nights that DH was gone) were lovely for the children, but the best part of the whole experience was that each family wrote these tender thoughtful notes to us; thanking our family for sharing DH with them. These thank yous were, for the most part, very specific, very tender and have become, without exceptions, touchstones that I turn to when I need to get back to those "whys." Gratitude is funny that way. When we receive it, when we give it, we remember, we feel, we know in greater detail why we do the things we do.

Jesus is Born! Hallelujah! Jesus is Born!