Light the World with Love

Every year leading up to Christmas we mark each day of advent by studying a scripture. Some years we've studied names of Christ, prophecies of His birth, stories of Christ from the Book of Mormon, etc. This tradition is always a wonderful highlight of our Christmas season, but this year was extra special. We focused on the theme, "Light the World with Love." Each day we read a story from Christ's life and focused on how He showed love to others. 

Studying Christ's life from the lense of love was awe inspiring. We had some wonderful discussion about our Savior, His love for us and all His children, and about ways we can love more fully. From each day's reading we wrote wrote a few words of summary. In the end, we had the most beautiful poster that has stayed up long after the other decorations have been returned to their boxes. 

I hope our kids remember this Christmas. I hope they remember their excitement as they thought of ways they could show more love to those around them. 

I hope they remember to always let love be the answer. We live in a world where fault-finding, bullying, hate, and contention are the norm. I hope they'll remember some of our discussions and are the first one to make peace, to refrain from judging someone, to offer a helping hand, and to stand with the sad and lonely. I know they have it in them because we occasionally catch glimpses of their greatness. 

Hazel directed the most incredible nativity with her cousins this year. It was beautifully done. I felt her love for the Lord as she invested her time and energy in to preparing this sweet tribute.  Also, at a recent youth retreat I witnessed Hazel quietly leaving the company of her friends to make sure a young man with Down Syndrome had a partner for an activity. No one made her do it, or asked for someone to partner with this young man. She simply saw a need and filled it. 

Eliza spent lots of time recently making little bracelets for her friends as a way of showing them her love. When one friend had her feeling hurt her older brother, she organized a few of the other girls to create little surprises to give to her at the Christmas party that night. She saw someone mourning, and did her best to comfort them.

Sweet Lenora was so looking forward to playing the angel in the nativity this year. The girls made it a tradition that whichever cousin was baptized that year, gets to be the angel. Since both Lenora and Brooklyn will be baptized next year, they decided Lenora would take this year and Brooklyn next. Lenora showed her love for the gospel by taking the time to memorize word-for-word the scripture spoken by the angel to the shepherds. Being the center of attention isn't an easy thing for her, but she shown as she recited her part! 

Orson frequently takes time to make people feel loved one-by-one. He'll stop what he's playing to comfort a sibling that's feeling sad or pause to give a grandparent a huge hug and smile. When Orson gives you a hug, you can feel his love burst from him in to you! 

Conrad, for all of his rowdy boyness, has a tender, loving heart. He was so respectful as a shepherd kneeling before baby Jesus. Each day was we read a scripture about Christ and began our discussion, Conrad pipped in that we should "listen to Jesus."

As we headed into a new year, we're hoping to spread a little more light, by sharing a little more love.