The Christmas Season

This is my favorite time of the year.  Growing up, I always loved the Christmas season, as it meant time with my family, trips to Grandma Dowdle's house in Orem, and trips to Nana and Papa Haycock's house in North Salt Lake.  I love the lights.  I love the trees and other decorations.  I love gifts under the tree.  And I love the excitement of Christmas morning as others open their gifts.  And I love gift giving.

As I thought about the season today, I was reminded of a letter that President Joseph F. Smith sent to his son David years ago.  In it, President Smith remembered some Christmases that had been very lean.  He wrote:

"From 1846 to 1848 and 9 I knew no Christmas, no holiday, and, indeed, if we had a Christmas or a New Year celebration at all before 1846--or until after I was married, for the life of me, at this moment I cannot remember it.  I was teamster, herd-boy, plow-boy, irrigator, harvester, with scythe or cradle, wood-hauler, thresher, winnower . . . , general roustabout, and a fatherless, motherless, and almost friendless missionary, and withal, always penniless. . . . Then when, after these dreary experiences, my own precious cherubs began to come along, we were existing on $3 per day for each working day employed, and that in tithing products at high prices.  Well, I cannot tell you how we managed to live at all, but we did!  God must have helped us, for I did not steal nor defraud my neighbor. . . . There were my three God-give mamas [his title for his wives, he going by papa], and our precious chicks, but not a dollar in cash, with which to buy one thing for Christmas.  I could draw a few pounds of flour, or meat, or a little molasses, or something of that kind, ahead, at the general Tithing Office and pay up at the end of the month with tithing scrip . . . which was not cash.  I saw many reveling in luxuries, with means to lavish on their every want, which were far more than their needs--riding in buggies, on prancing horses, enjoying their leisure, while I--we all! were on foot and of necessity tugging away with all our mights to keep soul and body together.  Under these spiritless conditions, one day just before Christmas, I left the old home with feelings I cannot describe.  I wanted to do something for my chicks.  I walked up and down Main Street, looking into the shop windows--into Amuser's jewelry store, into every store--everywhere--and then slunk out of sight of humanity and sat down and wept like a child, until my poured-out grief relieved my aching heart; and after awhile returned home, as empty as when I left, and played with my children, grateful and happy only for them and their beloved mothers" (Joseph F. Smith to David A. Smith, December 29, 1914, Improvement Era, January 1919, 266-67).

This isn't necessarily the kind of Christmas story that we love to tell at this season.  It is a story of hard Christmases without many things to be merry about.  No one saw and came to comfort the weeping father in the alley.  Shop keepers didn't open their stores and fill boxes and bags with goods well beyond this father's meager funds.  Strangers didn't show up at the door of the Smiths laden with presents.  He didn't find any money that he hadn't known he had.  There weren't stockings filled with goodies or presents neatly wrapped under the tree.  And there was no wonderment and awe as the little children opened presents on Christmas morning.  And yet. . . .

And yet, this is a beautiful Christmas story.  It is beautiful for the same reason that the Original Christmas Story is beautiful.  It is beautiful because a weeping father found comfort and contentment.  It is beautiful because God gave President Smith the strength to return home to his family with nothing in his hands, but with love in his heart.  It is beautiful because President Smith found that He was loved and accepted and welcomed by his wives and children simply because he was the husband and father in the home.  It is beautiful because he found joy and peace and gratitude in the arms of those he loved.

Perhaps this is one of those years when tight budgets and life's economic realities are going to make this one a meager Christmas at home.  Perhaps you are hurting over all the things that you cannot give to your loved ones.  If this is the case, speak to the Lord about your aching heart.  Ask for courage and strength and contentment.  And then go home and play with your children and spend time with your spouse.  Give of yourself.

Perhaps this is one of those years when blessings and good fortune allow you to buy more and to make this Christmas a lavish one.  Before you do too much, speak to the Lord with gratitude for your many blessings.  And then ask how you might be able to lift another who is not as blessed.  Ask for courage and strength and contentment.  And then go home and play with your children and spend time with your spouse.  Give of yourself.

Above all, remember that first Christmas Story and the difficult days that little family faced.  And remember that the greatest and most impactful gifts that you could give this season are to come closer to the Savior yourself and then to help others to come closer to Him with you.

Brett