December 1st

December 1st is one of my favourite days every year. It's the beginning of the end of a year. It is the official and acceptable start of the Christmas season, and it is always just a reflective day for me. I really start to think about Christ and the true meaning of the season, and kind of survey the year in my mind as it starts to come to a close - what else do I want to accomplish this year that I have not gotten to yet.
This December 1st was especially nice, as it fell on a Sunday. It was the first Sunday that we sung Christmas carols in our meetings, and on top of that it was a fast Sunday. In our church we use the first Sunday of each month as a chance for all members of our congregations who wish to share their feelings about the church and our Savior and religion in their lives. messages were shared about all sorts of Christmas traditions, and about really trying hard to remember and incorporate Jesus in to our lives.
We spend (in the church, and in our home) so much of our daily lives thinking about and worshiping Jesus. We commemorate his life and ministry every week in our Sacrament services, and we are trying to be close to Him and to learn from Him, and to be like Him every day. Believe it or not, this has in some ways made it harder for me to keep Him in the front of my thoughts throughout the whole Christmas season. I am going to try this season, and in to the new year, to not let my worship become a routine. Yes I do love Christ all year round, but why not take all the extra little moments I can to appreciate and think of Him more. I love Eric all year round, and still pay extra special attention to Him on His birthday. It should be the same this Christmas season, with my Savior. Yes I love Him all year round, but maybe I should take extra care at this time of year to do what He would have me do.
All the decorations and lights and glitter and wrapping has started coming out, and I sure am going to enjoy all that, but here's to learning to multi task in my Christmas joy this December.