Sunday morning at PEC meeting Jeff learned that what Marcy had was part of an epidemic, seemingly spread by the visiting teachers. Fully half the sisters in the ward were infected. The bishop was quite concerned when he heard that Sister Simmons had it, “What about her schedule? Do we need to rally the Relief Society sisters?”
“I think the best thing is to just let it run its course.” Jeff had been a medic in the army and spoke with authority if not so much expertise.
“I agree,” piped up Sam. “My wife has it, too, and, well, uh,” he hesitated and glanced at Jeff before continuing, “it’s really not half bad.”
The bishop couldn’t see any sense in that; the sisters were dropping like flies. He was considering banning visiting teaching for the rest of the month. He tried to get to the bottom of things, “What exactly are the symptoms?”
Jeff paused before answering, trying to think of exactly the right words. Sam piped up again, “My Ellie is calm.”
“Yeah, that’s it,” Jeff nodded, “calm… and happy!”
“Those are the symptoms?”
“Among others, but like I say, it’s really not BAD.”
Ed leaned over to the bishop and asked, “Would it be inappropriate for me to schedule an appointment for the visiting teachers to come see my wife?”
The bishop answered, “I think I’ll do that, too.” He made an announcement in sacrament meeting that day stressing the importance of visiting teaching, encouraging the sisters to get out early this month.
The ward party was different than any they’d ever had before. It was quit apparent which sisters had been visit-taught already, they were the calm, happy ones. Several of them were on the food committee which decided to go with a standard, no-stress pot-luck. The decorations committee was split. The “calm and happy” ones wanted to go the simple route, the others were pushing for bigger and better than the ward had ever seen before. Things were beginning to get heated when Ellie threw her arms around Sue and said, “I love you SO much, I want you to be happy. We can do it your way if it is really important to you, I don’t mind one bit!” That took Sue aback. Stunned she quickly calmed, then responded, “No… I think we should try your way this year.” And so the plain white table cloths were adorned with a simple sprig of pine and one shiny red Christmas ball. Even some of the men appreciated the result (especially Sue’s husband who was head of the clean-up committee).
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
part II
Marcy took it easy the next few days. She began each day listening to Christmas music while enjoying a hot bath. Some days she didn’t dress until noon, others she stayed in her robe all day. Tuesday she was in her robe taking some trash out when Marge from across the street ran over to her. “I heard you were sick, you don’t worry a bit about the neighbors, I already explained to them we won’t be getting our fruitcake this year; Edie even has last year’s still in the freezer. You just take care of yourself; we’d hate to lose the best neighbor we’ve ever had!” That was easy, Marcella thought to herself.
The few days stretched into many. She spent a lot of time reading. She began reading Jesus the Christ. She had read it in college and thought to herself then that she should read it every December. That was before the schedule. She puttered a little and put out a few decorations, just the really special ones. She cooked the kids’ favorite meals and made after-school treats. “Yes, they’re for you!” she happily declared, their faces so hopeful. One morning she spent at the temple; one afternoon she spent at the piano, playing every carol in every book of Christmas music she owned. That wasn’t on the schedule anywhere, but it brought back such memories of happy times, all long ago. One day she phoned old friends and neighbors, some she hadn’t heard from in years.
One afternoon ten-year-old Jacob invited her to go sledding down Bird Hill. He thought sure she would say no, Bird Hill was steep and high, his mother had quit sledding on it when she broke her leg there as a teenager. But she agreed and they had a marvelous time. They built a fire when they got home and had just toast and hot chocolate for supper. Jeff and the girls didn’t complain, it was such a treat to see Marcy so happy.
One evening Marianne, her fourteen-year-old, glanced at the schedule to see that Marcella was supposed to be wrapping gifts. Since she wasn’t, Marianne asked her if she’d like to hear the poem she wrote for school. It was a beautiful poem about the fire at girls’ camp. Marcella had no idea Marianne was so talented and creative. Marianne shared other things she’d written and Marcella shared some of her own writings from her high school days. They laughed, and cried, and hugged a lot.
Day after day her sewing machine lay idle; she never gave the schedule a second thought, it was as if she really didn’t care about it at all.
The few days stretched into many. She spent a lot of time reading. She began reading Jesus the Christ. She had read it in college and thought to herself then that she should read it every December. That was before the schedule. She puttered a little and put out a few decorations, just the really special ones. She cooked the kids’ favorite meals and made after-school treats. “Yes, they’re for you!” she happily declared, their faces so hopeful. One morning she spent at the temple; one afternoon she spent at the piano, playing every carol in every book of Christmas music she owned. That wasn’t on the schedule anywhere, but it brought back such memories of happy times, all long ago. One day she phoned old friends and neighbors, some she hadn’t heard from in years.
One afternoon ten-year-old Jacob invited her to go sledding down Bird Hill. He thought sure she would say no, Bird Hill was steep and high, his mother had quit sledding on it when she broke her leg there as a teenager. But she agreed and they had a marvelous time. They built a fire when they got home and had just toast and hot chocolate for supper. Jeff and the girls didn’t complain, it was such a treat to see Marcy so happy.
One evening Marianne, her fourteen-year-old, glanced at the schedule to see that Marcella was supposed to be wrapping gifts. Since she wasn’t, Marianne asked her if she’d like to hear the poem she wrote for school. It was a beautiful poem about the fire at girls’ camp. Marcella had no idea Marianne was so talented and creative. Marianne shared other things she’d written and Marcella shared some of her own writings from her high school days. They laughed, and cried, and hugged a lot.
Day after day her sewing machine lay idle; she never gave the schedule a second thought, it was as if she really didn’t care about it at all.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Christmas Epidemic
Dear readers, I enjoyed a nice vacation over Thanksgiving and now, along with all of you, am in the throes of Christmas preparations with sewing to do, candies to make and lots of errands. For the next few days I will share a story with you in the hopes it will help you slow down enough to have a happy season!
Part I (of IV)
Marcella first noticed something different when she didn’t feel her usual thrill at the first sight of Christmas decorations at the mall. Not only was she missing her usual thrill, but she felt annoyed. For her, that feeling had never been associated with Christmas, which surprised her. She dismissed it as a natural result of the mall breaking the unwritten rule of holiday décor that prohibited the display of decorations for holidays still two celebrations away. It was the middle of October.
Marcella had Christmas all figured out, she was the quintessential expert. She had it so figured out that she had earned such nicknames as “The Queen of Christmas” and “Holiday Guru”. It wasn’t just that she loved Christmas more than anyone else, it was that she had it down to a science. She knew exactly what to do when, each day of December, to make the celebration perfect. And it had been perfect the last twenty years. Her detailed (and quite lengthy) schedule fit in everything anyone could possibly want in a Christmas season, from caroling to gingerbread houses, fruitcake to hand-made gifts. Her schedule reflected the best streets in which neighborhoods to see the Christmas decorations. She knew which sales would be when and the regular Salvation Army bell-ringers knew her by name.
By Thanksgiving Marcella was usually well-doused in Christmas spirit, but not a drop had landed on her this year. She dismissed it as missing her oldest, Jack, who was serving a mission in Panama. It was his first holiday season away. She reassured herself, “I’ll be all right with that first snowfall and carol on the radio.” Snow came, it was depressing. “What kind of name is Wenceslas, anyway?” she caught herself muttering to the radio.
She posted her laminated copies of the schedule on the back of every door in the house; she found it helpful for the family to know what she was up to (they found it helpful to know when to stay clear of her). “I must be coming down with something,” she thought to herself as she struggled for energy for the morning’s errands. Visiting teaching was that afternoon, hers were coming at one, she’d meet her partner and visit their four sisters after that. She glanced at the message, “Finding Peace Through Christ”. Peace, she thought, as she grabbed the keys and dropped for quarters in her pocket for the bell-ringer outside of Wal-mart. But as she walked toward the entrance, the sound of that blasted bell, which always before had been music to her ears, made something snap within her. She froze for a moment as sheer dread welled up inside and overcame her. Then she heard herself say out loud, “I can’t do it.” She went home to bed. She didn’t sleep, but thought, a lot, about a lot of things. She read the visiting teaching message again. She studied the scriptures, she read the rest of the Ensign.
Her husband, Jeff, came home for lunch expecting the smell of gingerbread. He glanced at the schedule, yes, he should be smelling gingerbread. He found Marcella in bed and ran a hot bath for her, then ventured to ask the question troubling his mind, “Marcy, honey, what about your schedule?”
“I just can’t do it,” she explained matter-of-factly. “I can’t explain it, I just can’t do it.”
“That’s OK,” he reassured her.
Visiting teachers found her in her robe. It was very uncharacteristic of Marcella to be sick, especially during the holidays. Their first question was, “What about your schedule?” The whole ward knew about it, half of them used her version of it or one similar. She had taught a mini-class on it at July enrichment meeting every other year for the past ten years. She called it “Countdown to a Perfect Christmas”. Marcella explained to the visiting teachers what happened, as best as she understood it herself. They volunteered to do her visiting teaching for her that afternoon. Word of Marcella’s “condition” spread quickly, by evening half the ward knew that Marcella Simmons was sick, with something… Several others were beginning to feel symptoms, too.
The three girls and Jacob were surprised to find their mother in her robe when they got home from school. They were surprised nothing was ready for the “scheduled” Family Home Evening activity of making gingerbread houses. No one said anything about it. Instead, after supper Marcella shared with the family the visiting teaching message on peace and they gathered around the piano to sing carols, even though it wasn’t scheduled until the following week. She’ll snap out of it soon, they all thought.
Part I (of IV)
Marcella first noticed something different when she didn’t feel her usual thrill at the first sight of Christmas decorations at the mall. Not only was she missing her usual thrill, but she felt annoyed. For her, that feeling had never been associated with Christmas, which surprised her. She dismissed it as a natural result of the mall breaking the unwritten rule of holiday décor that prohibited the display of decorations for holidays still two celebrations away. It was the middle of October.
Marcella had Christmas all figured out, she was the quintessential expert. She had it so figured out that she had earned such nicknames as “The Queen of Christmas” and “Holiday Guru”. It wasn’t just that she loved Christmas more than anyone else, it was that she had it down to a science. She knew exactly what to do when, each day of December, to make the celebration perfect. And it had been perfect the last twenty years. Her detailed (and quite lengthy) schedule fit in everything anyone could possibly want in a Christmas season, from caroling to gingerbread houses, fruitcake to hand-made gifts. Her schedule reflected the best streets in which neighborhoods to see the Christmas decorations. She knew which sales would be when and the regular Salvation Army bell-ringers knew her by name.
By Thanksgiving Marcella was usually well-doused in Christmas spirit, but not a drop had landed on her this year. She dismissed it as missing her oldest, Jack, who was serving a mission in Panama. It was his first holiday season away. She reassured herself, “I’ll be all right with that first snowfall and carol on the radio.” Snow came, it was depressing. “What kind of name is Wenceslas, anyway?” she caught herself muttering to the radio.
She posted her laminated copies of the schedule on the back of every door in the house; she found it helpful for the family to know what she was up to (they found it helpful to know when to stay clear of her). “I must be coming down with something,” she thought to herself as she struggled for energy for the morning’s errands. Visiting teaching was that afternoon, hers were coming at one, she’d meet her partner and visit their four sisters after that. She glanced at the message, “Finding Peace Through Christ”. Peace, she thought, as she grabbed the keys and dropped for quarters in her pocket for the bell-ringer outside of Wal-mart. But as she walked toward the entrance, the sound of that blasted bell, which always before had been music to her ears, made something snap within her. She froze for a moment as sheer dread welled up inside and overcame her. Then she heard herself say out loud, “I can’t do it.” She went home to bed. She didn’t sleep, but thought, a lot, about a lot of things. She read the visiting teaching message again. She studied the scriptures, she read the rest of the Ensign.
Her husband, Jeff, came home for lunch expecting the smell of gingerbread. He glanced at the schedule, yes, he should be smelling gingerbread. He found Marcella in bed and ran a hot bath for her, then ventured to ask the question troubling his mind, “Marcy, honey, what about your schedule?”
“I just can’t do it,” she explained matter-of-factly. “I can’t explain it, I just can’t do it.”
“That’s OK,” he reassured her.
Visiting teachers found her in her robe. It was very uncharacteristic of Marcella to be sick, especially during the holidays. Their first question was, “What about your schedule?” The whole ward knew about it, half of them used her version of it or one similar. She had taught a mini-class on it at July enrichment meeting every other year for the past ten years. She called it “Countdown to a Perfect Christmas”. Marcella explained to the visiting teachers what happened, as best as she understood it herself. They volunteered to do her visiting teaching for her that afternoon. Word of Marcella’s “condition” spread quickly, by evening half the ward knew that Marcella Simmons was sick, with something… Several others were beginning to feel symptoms, too.
The three girls and Jacob were surprised to find their mother in her robe when they got home from school. They were surprised nothing was ready for the “scheduled” Family Home Evening activity of making gingerbread houses. No one said anything about it. Instead, after supper Marcella shared with the family the visiting teaching message on peace and they gathered around the piano to sing carols, even though it wasn’t scheduled until the following week. She’ll snap out of it soon, they all thought.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Give Thanks
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when
our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” Thornton Wilder
100 Things I’m Thankful For:
Agency, Atonement, Ancestors, Anticipation,
Babies, Books, Baths, Beaches,
Children, Colors, Chapstick, Celebrations, Christ,
Dawn, Dreams, Dancing, Democracy,
Emotions, Energy, Enthusiasm, Electricity,
Faith, Family, Friends, Feelings, Flowers, Food
Gardens, Grass, Goodness, Grace, God,
Hands, Home, Health,
Inspiration, Insights, Ideas,
Joy, Justice, Journeys,
Kindness, Kisses, Keepsakes,
Love, Laughter, Learning, Light, Libraries, Language,
Music, Memories, Mercy,
Nature, Naps, our Nation,
Order, Opportunities, Options,
Possibilities, Posterity, Prayer, Passion,
Quiet, Quality, Questions,
Rain, Romance, Relatives, Repentance,
Senses, Sunshine, Seasons, Smiles, Sunsets, Scripture,
Time, Talents, Truth, Tools, Tomorrows, Teachers, Trees.
Understanding, Uniqueness, Unity,
Vision, Virtue, Values, Voice,
Walks, Words, Wisdom,
X-citement, X-pression, X-periences,
Youth, Yearnings, Yesteryears
Zeal.
our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” Thornton Wilder
100 Things I’m Thankful For:
Agency, Atonement, Ancestors, Anticipation,
Babies, Books, Baths, Beaches,
Children, Colors, Chapstick, Celebrations, Christ,
Dawn, Dreams, Dancing, Democracy,
Emotions, Energy, Enthusiasm, Electricity,
Faith, Family, Friends, Feelings, Flowers, Food
Gardens, Grass, Goodness, Grace, God,
Hands, Home, Health,
Inspiration, Insights, Ideas,
Joy, Justice, Journeys,
Kindness, Kisses, Keepsakes,
Love, Laughter, Learning, Light, Libraries, Language,
Music, Memories, Mercy,
Nature, Naps, our Nation,
Order, Opportunities, Options,
Possibilities, Posterity, Prayer, Passion,
Quiet, Quality, Questions,
Rain, Romance, Relatives, Repentance,
Senses, Sunshine, Seasons, Smiles, Sunsets, Scripture,
Time, Talents, Truth, Tools, Tomorrows, Teachers, Trees.
Understanding, Uniqueness, Unity,
Vision, Virtue, Values, Voice,
Walks, Words, Wisdom,
X-citement, X-pression, X-periences,
Youth, Yearnings, Yesteryears
Zeal.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
"...just the way you are."
My earliest memories include watching Romper Room and later Captain Kangaroo each morning; I still love to sing one of the songs from his show, “Playmate, Come out and Play with Me”. I was so sad when he finally went off the air, he was a dear friend. I had never been much of a fan of Mr. Rogers; his show seemed a little too calm, even sugary sweet for my tastes (although I DID appreciate his proper use of the English language). So when I had children of my own, we were drawn to the more lively Sesame Street which became a regular part of our daily routine. Occasionally, if we happened to catch him, we would also watch Mr. Rogers, but really it was only because it was on, and we were there.
One day the children were off playing in another room and I sat down to fold laundry just as Mr. Rogers sang his closing number. Then he looked right at me and said, “I like you just the way you are.” I had heard him say it a hundred times before, but that day I knew he was talking to me, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. I don’t think anyone had ever said that to me before, but it spoke volumes to me and I finally understood why it is such a precious thing for children to hear, for all of us to hear. He was telling me that my identity is not just a list of my weaknesses, my mistakes, my daily challenges and the way I get frustrated; or that only as I overcome these things “someday” will I be acceptable. He was telling me that I am important, good, worthy, worthwhile, valuable, accepted and even loved, now. Not because he doesn’t know all of those things about me, not even in spite of all of those things. He saw each one of us as a whole package, a whole wonderful package at this very moment in time. That was his magic; not catchy songs or cute characters. It was his Christ-like eyes, through which he saw this world, everyone and everything in it as truly marvelous. Oh that we all could be more that way…
Thank-you, dear friend.
One day the children were off playing in another room and I sat down to fold laundry just as Mr. Rogers sang his closing number. Then he looked right at me and said, “I like you just the way you are.” I had heard him say it a hundred times before, but that day I knew he was talking to me, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. I don’t think anyone had ever said that to me before, but it spoke volumes to me and I finally understood why it is such a precious thing for children to hear, for all of us to hear. He was telling me that my identity is not just a list of my weaknesses, my mistakes, my daily challenges and the way I get frustrated; or that only as I overcome these things “someday” will I be acceptable. He was telling me that I am important, good, worthy, worthwhile, valuable, accepted and even loved, now. Not because he doesn’t know all of those things about me, not even in spite of all of those things. He saw each one of us as a whole package, a whole wonderful package at this very moment in time. That was his magic; not catchy songs or cute characters. It was his Christ-like eyes, through which he saw this world, everyone and everything in it as truly marvelous. Oh that we all could be more that way…
Thank-you, dear friend.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
feasting favorites
I hope you are getting excited about your Thanksgiving feast and sharing that special time with family and friends. Here are a few of my favorite recipes if you need something to make that meal “perfect”!
CRANBERRY SALAD
2 Cups ground, raw cranberries
1 orange, ground (peel included)
2 Cups sugar
2 small packages lemon Jell-O
1 C water, 3 Cups water
1 Cup diced celery
1 Cup chopped walnuts
Cut the orange in pieces and grind along with the cranberries in the blender with 1 cup of water. Combine with sugar in a bowl and let sit while making Jell-O according to package directions (using 2 cups of boiling water to dissolve, then one cup of cold water). Refrigerate until Jell-O has thickened, but is not set. Stir in orange/cranberry mixture, the celery and nuts. Refrigerate until completely set. Serve on individual salad plates on a lettuce leaf.
CANDIED SWEET POTATOES WITH PECAN TOPPING
SWEET POTATOES:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
1/4 C butter
1/4 C milk
1 tsp vanilla
*Mix all ingredients together and pour into baking dish.
TOPPING:
1 C brown sugar
1 C chopped pecans
1/2 C butter, melted
1/2 C flour
*Mix and spread over sweet potatoes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving. Cover leftovers when re-heating.
CORNBREAD
1 1/4 Cup flour
1 Cup milk
3/4 Cup cornmeal
1/4 Cup oil
1/3 Cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
*Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the liquid ingredients together then add to the dry ingredients mixing until just blended. Bake in greased 9x9 pan or 12 muffin tins at 400 degrees until golden. Serve hot.
POTATO ROLLS
Put in a mixing bowl:
1 Cup warm milk
5 tsp. yeast
*Let stand 5 minutes, then add:
½ Cup melted butter
½ Cup sugar
1 Cup warm mashed potatoes
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ Cup flour
2 eggs
*Beat thoroughly, then cover and let rise until light. Add about 4 more cups of flour, mixing well. Knead a minute or two. Put into an oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled. Form into rolls, let rise, then bake at 425 until golden. *NOTE: this dough makes great cinnamon rolls and fabulous donuts. It keeps (covered in plastic) in the refrigerator well, so you can use part of the dough for dinner rolls and have some leftover for yummy donuts in the morning! (hint: it is easier to cut out donuts if the dough has been chilled).
CRANBERRY SALAD
2 Cups ground, raw cranberries
1 orange, ground (peel included)
2 Cups sugar
2 small packages lemon Jell-O
1 C water, 3 Cups water
1 Cup diced celery
1 Cup chopped walnuts
Cut the orange in pieces and grind along with the cranberries in the blender with 1 cup of water. Combine with sugar in a bowl and let sit while making Jell-O according to package directions (using 2 cups of boiling water to dissolve, then one cup of cold water). Refrigerate until Jell-O has thickened, but is not set. Stir in orange/cranberry mixture, the celery and nuts. Refrigerate until completely set. Serve on individual salad plates on a lettuce leaf.
CANDIED SWEET POTATOES WITH PECAN TOPPING
SWEET POTATOES:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
1/4 C butter
1/4 C milk
1 tsp vanilla
*Mix all ingredients together and pour into baking dish.
TOPPING:
1 C brown sugar
1 C chopped pecans
1/2 C butter, melted
1/2 C flour
*Mix and spread over sweet potatoes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving. Cover leftovers when re-heating.
CORNBREAD
1 1/4 Cup flour
1 Cup milk
3/4 Cup cornmeal
1/4 Cup oil
1/3 Cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
*Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the liquid ingredients together then add to the dry ingredients mixing until just blended. Bake in greased 9x9 pan or 12 muffin tins at 400 degrees until golden. Serve hot.
POTATO ROLLS
Put in a mixing bowl:
1 Cup warm milk
5 tsp. yeast
*Let stand 5 minutes, then add:
½ Cup melted butter
½ Cup sugar
1 Cup warm mashed potatoes
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ Cup flour
2 eggs
*Beat thoroughly, then cover and let rise until light. Add about 4 more cups of flour, mixing well. Knead a minute or two. Put into an oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled. Form into rolls, let rise, then bake at 425 until golden. *NOTE: this dough makes great cinnamon rolls and fabulous donuts. It keeps (covered in plastic) in the refrigerator well, so you can use part of the dough for dinner rolls and have some leftover for yummy donuts in the morning! (hint: it is easier to cut out donuts if the dough has been chilled).
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
An invitation...
You are cordially invited to a Very Special Christmas Season. I invite you to share these ideas with your family and friends, then individually or as a family choose one of the options and then watch the magic of Christ bless your holidays!
Random acts of Kindness
Each morning in December, prayerfully offer yourself to the Savior as His servant for the day. During the day watch for opportunities, and listen for His promptings, of things you can do to brighten another’s day and help them feel the love of the Savior.
Love is a Verb
Prayerfully select someone toward whom you have difficulty showing Christ-like love. Each day in December, ask for the Lord’s help and guidance in making your thoughts, words, and deeds toward that person like those of the Savior.
Stand as a Witness
Each morning in December, pray for a missionary experience that day. Be sensitive to the Spirit and be prepared when it guides you to share a message of the Savior.
Learn of Me
Prayerfully choose a book about the Savior to read during December. Read 10 minutes each day (in addition to your scriptures).
Give a Gift from the Heart
Prayerfully consider the many gifts and talents the Lord has given especially to you, especially to bless the lives of those around you. Use one or more of those gifts to prepare and give a Christmas gift that is uniquely you. Be creative and let the Spirit help you know what the “perfect” gift is.
Give a Gift to the Savior
Christmas gifts celebrate the greatest gift of all, The Savior. One of the greatest things you can give Him in return is your obedience. Choose a commandment that is difficult for you at this time. Each day in December, prayerfully ask for the Lord’s help to strengthen you in living that commandment more fully and acceptable to the Lord.
Random acts of Kindness
Each morning in December, prayerfully offer yourself to the Savior as His servant for the day. During the day watch for opportunities, and listen for His promptings, of things you can do to brighten another’s day and help them feel the love of the Savior.
Love is a Verb
Prayerfully select someone toward whom you have difficulty showing Christ-like love. Each day in December, ask for the Lord’s help and guidance in making your thoughts, words, and deeds toward that person like those of the Savior.
Stand as a Witness
Each morning in December, pray for a missionary experience that day. Be sensitive to the Spirit and be prepared when it guides you to share a message of the Savior.
Learn of Me
Prayerfully choose a book about the Savior to read during December. Read 10 minutes each day (in addition to your scriptures).
Give a Gift from the Heart
Prayerfully consider the many gifts and talents the Lord has given especially to you, especially to bless the lives of those around you. Use one or more of those gifts to prepare and give a Christmas gift that is uniquely you. Be creative and let the Spirit help you know what the “perfect” gift is.
Give a Gift to the Savior
Christmas gifts celebrate the greatest gift of all, The Savior. One of the greatest things you can give Him in return is your obedience. Choose a commandment that is difficult for you at this time. Each day in December, prayerfully ask for the Lord’s help to strengthen you in living that commandment more fully and acceptable to the Lord.
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