Day 8 -Donkey

When I think of the Donkey that carried Mary that long way, I can’t help by think of service and love. Mary, in her weakened condition, could not have made the journey walking. She needed help. I’m sure it wasn’t easy carrying the pregnant woman but the donkey did it. It might seem like a small act to some, but for Her I’m sure it was immeasurable. It is the little acts of service and love that matter the most. I hope during this wonderful time of year you can reach out to someone, to serve and to love them.

Day 7- The Sheep

In our church there is a lot of symbolism attached to the sheep. Not necessarily the sheep that might have been there the night that our Savior was born, but sheep in general. I really like what Elder Robert D. Halessaid in the October 2012 Conference, “This is the call of Christ to every Christian today: “Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep”—share my gospel with young and old, lifting, blessing, comforting, encouraging, and building them, especially those who think and believe differently than we do. We feed His lambs in our homes by how we live the gospel: keeping the commandments, praying, studying the scriptures, and emulating His love. We feed His sheep in the Church as we serve in priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations. And we feed His sheep throughout the world by being good Christian neighbors, practicing the pure religion of visiting and serving the widows, the fatherless, the poor, and all who are in need.” Are we feeding His lambs?

Day 6 -Wiseman 3

The third thing I want to tell you about what I have learned from the wise men comes from what they did after they met Jesus and gave him their gifts. In Matthew 2:12 is reads, “And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”

The wise men listen to the promptings of the Lord and they went a different way home. Sometimes in our lives the Lord tries to tell us, or warn us, of things pointing us to go in a different direction. It’s not always easy to follow what the Lord tells us to do, but it is always for our good and/or for the good of others around us. Next time you feel a prompting from the Lord, even if it is pointing you in a direction you hadn’t planned on, follow the Lord and all will be well in the end.                                

Day 5- Wiseman 2

Wise men from the East had been watching for sings to know that Jesus had been born. When they saw the new start int he sky they knew it was what they had been looking for. In our lives we, too, should be looking to the future and being wise in the way we live our lives.

Day 4- Wisemen #1

"Go and search diligently for the young child" Mathew 2:8
Are you still searching for Christ everyday in your life?

Day 3 - Mary

What an exciting and humbling time for Mary. Her life changed forever after the visit with the angel Gabriel. It was certainly harder than it might have seemed to be. I am sure it was a trying time for her as well. But she had a testimony of God and she was wiling to do whatever He asked of her. God asks us to do things in our lives, sometimes it may seem too hard. But it is our privilege to have our lived dedicated to Him. May we say as Mary did, "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior."

Day 2 - Joseph

When I think of Joseph I think of courage, faith, and devotion. He could have left Mary, who he was espoused to. But he didn't.  I don’t know what it was like in those days. I don’t know if people gossiped like they do now. But I think it took a lot of courage to stand by Mary’s side.

I love what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said about Joseph, “As a father, I have thought often of Joseph—that strong, silent, almost unknown man who must have been more worthy than any other mortal man to be the guiding foster father of the living Son of God. It was Joseph selected from among all men who would teach Jesus to work. It was Joseph who taught him the books of the Law. It was Joseph who, in the seclusion of the shop, helped him begin to understand who he was and ultimately what he was to become.”

As parents do we take the sacred responsibility of raising our children to be the adults that Heavenly Father would want them to become?