-Thomas S. Monson
The Christmas season to me is exactly what President Monson described:
Christmas is. . .
spirit of giving
happiness
joy
forgetting self
finding time for others
stressing the true values
peace
love
12/22/15
After 65 years of marriage, today my sweet grandparents are entering the temple to receive their endowments and be sealed as a family for time and all eternity (To learn more about eternal families, click here for a great talk).
As I've grown older, the Christmas season has become more meaningful to me. I have come to acknowledge the purpose of Christmas, the joy that is felt, and the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. Christmas is time with family, baking sugary treats, gift shopping, and listening to carolers. It's driving around and seeing houses decorated with lights, trees glowing in the windows, and snow covered driveways. But most importantly, it is a time to reflect on our Savior, Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, I have felt the love of our Savior more profoundly than I ever have. As I was helping my grandmother put on her makeup before leaving for the temple, I was struck with an amazing feeling of peace. As I looked at her, though aged with lines that provide a glimpse into the life she has lived, I couldn't help but think of the beautiful woman she is and the love our Heavenly Father has for her. . . as well as her family.
We have been given the gift of an eternal family. The new pair of shoes or the new toy won't matter in 10 or 20 years, but the gift of family is priceless and has no end. Because of the missionaries and the example of others in my grandparents lives, my family and many generations to come will be eternal. We will be able to meet again in the next life and laugh and love and celebrate being a family. Because of our Savior, we have been blessed with the most precious gift that could have been given to my family this Christmas season: an eternal family. And for that, I will be forever grateful.
Merry Christmas
-Cort
