Well well Christmas is upon us. The time sure has been flying so far.
To catch everyone up, I got back from my 2 year mission in the San Fernando Valley in California for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While there I had experienced so many wonderful things, and seen many miracles.
One thing that was very interesting to experience in the mission field was Christmas. I spent one Christmas in the Missionary Training Center located in Provo Utah. While there, a famous artist, Greg Olsen, made a guest appearance. Greg Olsen is a LDS artist who creats beautiful images of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He spoke to all the missionaries on Christmas about how he receives inspiration for his art. He extended a challenge to all fo the missionaries at the end of his presentation. He asked for everyone to take time tonight that Christmas Eve to "be still" and to think about the significance of the Savior in their lives. He further challenged us and told us to stretch our imagination and to really picture the kind of relationship that we have with Christ. I did so that night and made wonderful discoveries. I wrote in my journal expounding about the things that I had discovered that night. I mentioned how that this year marks the birth of Jesus Christ, who provided the greatest present unto all of us, the gift of eternal life. I continue by writing "We give presents on Christmas to mimic the Christlike attribute of charity and love. Showing love is one of the most important and wonderful things we can do on this Earth. . .We celebrate and show our appreciation by following [Christ's] example and loving one another as He has loved us so much. . . Love is the key. Love is what creates the greatest of all happiness, and Christ's love was perhaps the greatest of all." This year I am home, and This morning I got to talk with a wonderful woman who I was privileged to see her go from darkness and despair to light and hope during my mission. I was also privileged to baptize her. This woman has had a really hard life, and lately it is still pretty hard. She has got back from spending 2 months in the hospital, and a retirement home due to a serious infection in her digestive system. She became very emotional during our conversation as she was telling of her challenges and misfortunes. She apologized for being kind of emotional during the conversation. She said it was because she was generally sad because she wasn't going to get that much for Christmas. I felt very impressed to express my thoughts, and the story of the my experience with Christmas in the Missionary Training Center. I told her that Christmas was about the general feeling of love that we feel from those around us. Of all the ones who love us, I know that our Heavenly Father, and our Savior, Jesus Christ has a pure and eternal love for us. Jesus Christ suffered and died for each and every one of us. Materialistic things that we may recieve on Christmas can be taken away or destroyed, however, the ultimate gift of love from those who are around us can never be taken away nor destroyed. The woman appreciated the thoughts and commented that I always seem to know the right things to say.
Speaking with her, and reflecting upon the past Christmases that I have had in the past rekindled the wonderful feelings that come when I remember what Christmas is trully about. Whether you are religious or not, what really matters is the love that surround us. It is my testimony that we have a loving Heavenly Father who willingly sacrificed his Only Begotten Son to save all of mankind in the ultimate act of love unto all us, his children.
I'm so greatful for the love that surrounds me, and I will always hold dear to those who have given me that love. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.
-Pyro
