Christmas Spirit & Contentment

As my wife and I were working on setting up some of the decorations for our party, we noticed that we weren't really feeling the holiday spirit. So we started talking about what we feel is most important about the holidays. Each of us recalled fond memories of time spent with family when we were children. Reciting Luke chapter 2 while my sister stood on a chair, draped in a sheet, and my dad crawled around as a donkey. Watching Mickey's Christmas carol or baking treats. Caroling and other forms of musical expression.

Too often we find ourselves wrapped in a web of commitments and stress. We fall in to the trap of 'Keeping up with the Jones'' and then we suffer from time debt and emotional exhaustion. When the day arrives, we're too tuckered to listen to the still small voice as it bears testimony to one of the most pivotal moments in all of history.

Every story has a grain of truth in it. Those with more truth stick around because they resonate with us. When a man makes a moral decision in a story, we empathize with him. When a woman sacrifices herself for something more important than self, we cheer. We do this because every one of us has a sense of moral right and wrong. That which is true and right reaches past our defenses and softens our hearts. We live in a hard world, so it is good to be reminded, often, that our brother chose to come here and suffer for us, so that we might have joy.

All the trappings and the stories, all the music and frivolity, lead to one simple truth. There is still power in the sacrifice of one man. Our God came to earth, lived to teach us, then died to save us. "As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free." We are meant to be free men and women, standing in the strength of our faith.

If you do not feel the Spirit this holiday season, don't despair. Despair is a powerful tool of Satan. You are a precious child of God. Jesus died for your sins. You may still choose to reject the gospel, to turn your back on the Lord; but this holiday season, he seeks always to remind you that he will never turn his back on you. "His arm is stretched out still."

Our time is a most excellent time on earth. Many voices are clamoring to be heard, preaching despair. DON'T BELIEVE THEM! God put you here on the earth for a reason. Gather your family around you, pray with them, pray for them, then ask yourselves how your family can help the life of your brother next door, your friend down the street, the perfect stranger in the grocery store.

One of the aspects of my character that I take the most pride in is something my family taught me. See, we moved a lot growing up. As a quiet kid, I rarely made friends quickly. Often my best friends were books and computer games; friends that couldn't leave me, safe friends. But my family loved me, cherished me, fought with me and for me. Over the years, as we moved and shifted, I always knew that my siblings would be there for me on the other side. That anchor saved me.

Families are not accidental. Look beside you, the person standing there is there for a purpose. You are in their life for a purpose. Right now, look at them and express your love and gratitude. Cement those bonds of loyalty and friendship. The family is part of God's plan because we need family. If Satan gets us alone, then we will eventually fail. This is the lesson that my family taught me. Together, we could do anything.

What can your family, pulling together, do for your brothers and sisters, this holiday season?

I'd like to close this post by speaking to my brothers and sisters that take the time to read this. Thank you. Each of you is important to me in a unique way. I have memories of our times together that I would not trade for the world. In a significant way, I am who I am today because of you. Ben described himself as my "mentor and tormentor" at my wedding. That is a pretty true description of our relationship over the years. I look forward to returning the tormenting favor.

Please, reach out to your lovely children and your excellent spouses. Hold them tight, make memories, and live the gospel. I testify to you that if we do this, then we "may stand still, and behold the salvation of God." "For behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea or even than his tens of thousands.

I love all of you,

Nate