This Christmas, I think, is about to be the best one I've ever had. My children are at the ages where they can really begin to understand what it means, and the twinkle in their eyes is infectious. We've simplified, said "no" a whole lot, and kept our spending relatively modest. On top of that, my parents' Christmas card showed up. It's a simple card with a note about my father's health, and the usual holiday wishes. But my mother included this quote, too, and I knew I wanted to take it to heart, make it mine, and share it with all of you:
Christmas is not a day or a season, but a condition of heart and mind.
If we love our neighbors as ourselves;
if in our riches we are poor in spirit and in our poverty we are rich in grace;
if our charity vaunteth not itself, but suffereth long and is kind;
if when our brother asks for a loaf, we give ourselves instead;
if each day dawns in opportunity and sets in achievement, however small -
then every day is Christ's day and Christmas is always near.*
If we love our neighbors as ourselves;
if in our riches we are poor in spirit and in our poverty we are rich in grace;
if our charity vaunteth not itself, but suffereth long and is kind;
if when our brother asks for a loaf, we give ourselves instead;
if each day dawns in opportunity and sets in achievement, however small -
then every day is Christ's day and Christmas is always near.*
I really don't think I could have said it better myself. Here's wishing you a wonderful, blessed, very best Christmas. Every day of the year.
*James Wallingford, quoted by Howard W. Hunter in a devotional address titled "The Real Christmas" given at Brigham Young University in 1972.
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Wow! That is wonderful, Rachel! Thanks for sharing it!
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