Christmas Stories

If I still had children at home I would make it a tradition to gather them around me every night in December and tell them a Christmas story. For me, nothing brings home the sacredness of the season like the many, many wonderful stories of service, love and sharing that are told this time of year. Our combined YW activity at Mutual last night focused on two Christmas stories; THE Christmas Story and the story of The Christmas Orange. It was a wonderful activity and one that I think (with a little planning) a family could replicate for a home evening. Even our habitual eye-rollers who are amused by everything and impressed by nothing were silenced and sobered.



We told the girls that we were going to visit four families to sing them a couple of Christmas carols, read them the story of the Christmas Orange and leave them a bag of oranges. What the girls didn't know was that the families had been contacted in advance and told to turn us away at the door. They each had an excuse--sick kids--too busy--not in the mood. The girls were embarrassed and offended at the first three houses. By the time we got to the last house the older girls had caught on. My little Beehives, though, were nearly in tears. They really wanted to share their carols and story.



At the last house, the family took pity on us and told us we could go around back to their patio and get out of the cold for a while. (Of course this was all pre-arranged). The backyard was lit with just the blue pool lights and the uplights in the many palm trees. The stone patio was spread with several layers of quilts and blankets and in the center stood an empty manger. I was amazed at how instantly reverent the girls became. Silently, they took their seats on the ground around the manger. Then the "Innkeeper's Song" from Michael McLean's Forgotten Carols began to play. The song ends with the words, "Let Him in...let Him in...let Him in."



The girls continued to sit in utter silence while Sister Krauss asked them how it felt to be turned away, rejected. After they shared their feelings, she asked them to think about how it must make the Savior feel when we reject Him and don't give Him room in our hearts. Then she read them the story of "The Christmas Orange." We finished with hot chocolate and cookies.



It was a wonderful lead-in to the Christmas season. Tonight is our Relief Society Christmas dinner and program. I am taking part in a reader's theater with another touching Christmas story, a true story of service and answered prayers that took place in 1927, in Canada. If you would like me to e-mail you a copy of either story, just let me know.





Now it's back to my sewing machine. I am sewing and filling 30 festive bags of pistachios that Bill will send out to business associates.





I hope your homes are filled with Christmas cheer. Don't let the "stuff" overwhelm the "spirit."