Christmas Thoughts

Christmas seems to be the one day each year that the world pauses and takes a collective breath.  Lifted to a higher plane by the idea of “peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

Today as we all pause and celebrate with those traditions that we hold dear may we reflect on others. Those who’s life may not be as “good” as ours. It may be filled with hunger, poverty, pain or illness.  Pause and reflect on the blessings of our own life and how we can share of our substance, our time, our empathy to those who may need these gifts at this moment.

This is the season when we remember that event over two millennia ago when God the Eternal Father sent his only begotten son to earth.  Sent him to the most humble of circumstances with the knowledge that he would lead a life filled with many pains and challenges.  The ultimate pain and suffering would come 33 years later on the cross on calvary as he gave himself as sacrifice for all of mankind.

I have many memories of Christmas as a child and of Christmas with my children.  But the most powerful memory is Christmas last year.  It is best described as a memory of what I don’t remember.  I lay in a hospital just emerging from a coma.  The memory is brief, a paper Christmas tree on the hospital wall, a gift from the children’s group at church.  My wife, my son and my daughter at my side.  I do not remember gifts, nor feasts.  Just those simple things, for a brief moment.  In that small wisp of a memory I realized what is really important at this time of year.  Our Savior and my family.

As we all pause this season, ponder the profound nature of our Heavenly Father’s gift long ago.  In the simplicity and magnificence of that gift we can gain a clearer perspective on the important things in this life.