Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve is finally here, and I hope you are all enjoying every minute of it. My family came up and spent the day with me at my parents. It was wonderful!!! I feel rejuvenated and got to hug the stuffin' out of all of them. We enjoyed good food, good conversation and a few moments to reflect on the circumstances of this special Christmas. We are very humbled by the outpouring of love and service from so many kind and wonderful people in our lives. I would like to share a scripture from Alma 7:10-12 that has helped me more clearly understand this purpose for Christ' birth and life upon this earth. "10 And behold, he shall be ^aborn of Mary, at ^bJerusalem which is the ^cland of our forefathers, she being a ^dvirgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and ^econceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

No matter what our circumstances or challenges maybe, The Lord understands them! He has taken upon him not only our sins, but our pains, our afflictions, our sicknesses, and our infirmities. Sometimes when we feel we are completely alone and no one can understand what we are going through, we need only to remember that the Lord is there and He is filled with mercy and knows and understands what we are going through. My hope is that each of us will take this scripture literally. I have told this to my children and hope that they know when I can not be there right now to give them a hug, help them with homework or listen to their problems that the Lord will always be there. I think this is a hard process for parents to learn from the time we let them take their first steps alone to sending them off to the first day of school. Sometimes we have to just trust in the Lord and teach our children to do also. Thank you for letting me share some of my personal thoughts on this very Personal Christmas Eve. I love and pray for the Lords choicest blessing to be poured out on you and your families. May we all continue to strive to follow His way and grow from the challenges we face. Love, Kris