It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Happy post-thanksgiving! Did everyone have a good time? I know we did! Thank you to all the lovely families who had us over for food, games, and more food. I feel so blessed to be serving you!

 

 

I think one of the greatest blessings of serving in the mission that I am, is that Christmas time starts over a month in advance for us. =D The Mesa temple has a tradition going on 34 years now of a Christmas lights display during the end of November and all the way through December. All the sister missionaries will be on the grounds during the whole duration of the lights. We begin our first official shift tonight!!! I am so excited. This has been something that we have been preparing for for a while now, and I am really excited to be taking part in something that will touch so many lives.

 

This morning, I was reading Luke, chapter two. I love the story of my Savior's birth! The one thing that really stuck out to me as I read this account was the shepherds. How special they are! I know that in one point in my life, I wondered why, of all people, the shepherds were almost the first people to hear of the birth of the Savior. As I have thought more about that, I am struck by their humble circumstances. I am sure that being a shepherd was not the cleanest job, and probably not the employment that was most sought after. They traveled a lot, and lived out of simple tents and lowly camps. During Jesus Christ's ministry, he taught us over and over again that we needed to be humble. He himself is even compared to being a shepherd, watching over his tender sheep (or followers). I believe that the shepherds in that field were first because they were humble, and were willing to listen. After hearing the message, they made no hesitation to seek this Jesus. Even after witnessing him themselves, they labored immediately to go and tell others of the news. We can learn from those humble, simple workers the importance of being humble and willing to listen to the Lord.

 

Being humble is not easy, but I know that as we continually pray to our Heavenly Father for help to accept His will, He will bless us in our efforts to obtain the gift of humility. Today, think about what it would take for you to be willing and ready to accept such news of Christ. I promise that as we become a more humble people, and work to do everything that the Father would have us do, we will be more prepared to accept and act upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.