In these final days before Christmas, have you had a moment to soak it in, the joy of the season? Last week I intentionally focused on finding and feeling those “soak-it-in” moments. And, as you would imagine, they came in the simplest forms.
Two nights in a row we attended our children’s Christmas choir concerts. And both evenings they played a selection of Handel’s Messiah. The first evening’s version was at the high school—an incredibly polished production and sound with orchestra and combined choirs; the second evening was at the junior high consisting of a buoyant youthful sound with a smaller choir and no orchestra. What struck me most is that both evenings, I felt moved to tears. As the audience rose to their feet out of respect, I felt the happy fullness that comes from a large group of people honoring the Savior through music.
I soaked it in.
I felt another moment in an unexpected way—while shopping. With all our mutterings—including my own—about the materialism of the season, my trimming of the trappings brought more joy in the actual few days I spent in the store. As I pushed the cart around, my sweet baby discovered that if he made a kissing sound, Mom would give him a smooch. We repeated this process during the entire shopping time, his giggles and sheer joy making it sweet and memorable.
I definitely soaked it in.
Lastly, I was re-reading Believing Christ, by Stephen Robinson, and the wonderful Parable of the Bicycle. In this story, his sweet daughter saved sixty-one cents for a new bike—all the money she had and all the effort she could put in—and brought it to her dad to purchase the bike. Knowing that was all she had, and her sincere efforts to give it, her father not only agreed but delighted in getting her the bike.
Robinson likens this to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We bring Him our sixty-one cents of efforts, worries, mistakes, fears, anxiety, sadness, hurt, betrayal, and more, and He delights in making up the difference in His perfection. As we work at becoming better each day, He compensates for what is lacking, fills in the gaps, and buoys us up as we come to Him.
The wonder of that fills my soul. To daily feel peace and joy when I’m so woefully lacking, to hold my head high and feel confidence and happiness on a daily basis because of His offering, is a gift I can hardly believe we are able to receive.
I’m soaking that in, too.
Merry Christmas,
Connie
P.S. If you need gifts for those you love, 40 Days with the Savior Book Bunches can be purchased in packs of 3. Check it out.
https://conniesokol.com/
