Mourning

I am so sorrowful over the horrible school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. Whenever I lay down to sleep it's all I can think about. I think about those innocent children and their families. And I try not to think too much about how it all happened. It't just too, too terrible. 

I am so grateful for my understanding of God's plan for our lives-- that life is not the beginning or end of who we are as individuals. I have a firm belief that those sweet children and brave teachers and administrators are peaceful and happy in a state of spiritual paradise (Alma 40:12). 

And, like the article that has been circulating social media, I think we need to better address the needs of the mentally ill in our communities. 

Christmas

Have you read The Christmas Scene by Neal A. Maxwell? It's a very small book written to explain the true majesty of the Christmas story-- the type of book that one could read every year and keep learning. I read it some time ago and for the first time really thought about the paradoxes of Christmas. For example, Jesus Christ, who is the creator of the earth-- who was the most intelligent, obedient, powerful spirit ever to be born-- came as a fragile infant in the most humble of circumstances.

Unfortunately I lost my copy, but I was reminded of it this week when I found this quote:

“God’s gifts, unlike seasonal gifts, are eternal and unperishable, 

constituting a continuing Christmas which is never over!"

(Neal A. Maxwell, “The Christmas Scene,” Bookcraft 1994, pp. 4)

Although the cakes, cookies, candy, and sweet breads will either be eaten or thrown away; although the toys will eventually break or be discarded; and although the new tech gadgets will eventually become obsolete, the atonement will never be used up, worn out, or stop helping us. 

Because Christ willingly came to earth to be our Savior, we can have the greatest gift of all-- eternal life. The true purpose of Christmas never ends.