Was a Christmas with GIFTS.
Inspired by this talk, our family decided to give the gift of 'something memorized' to one another for Christmas this year.
The only guideline was 'something memorized'.
It was stunning.
No, it was sacred.
You know that feeling that comes when everyone is gathered and hearts are knit together as one and then a sweet spirit seems to fill the room?
That was a bonus part of this gift.
Gifts that required thought and preparation and heart felt effort.
For our family it worked so well - we will not being going back to the presents, we are staying with gifts.
A small sampling. Owen, our six year old Grandson recited this from memory. With hands in his pockets, twisting one foot and then the other.
Ashtyn sang, like an angel, for us all the verses to "Christmas Bells are Ringing".
Sam our handsome boy, recited Isaiah 53. Yes, the entire chapter.
Another son learned a long passage in Spanish, a language he use to speak fluently and is afraid of losing and so forced himself to remember and memorize.
Jess recited this...you know there is something that also happens to the listener when a document is recited from memory.
Jill shared several verses from 3rd Nephi.
And much much more. That is just a smattering.
It was a holy and sacred day.
P.S.
I have to confess, I did have a melt down about a week before Christmas, what was I thinking, not loading up the shopping cart and bringing home...gaily wrapping and dispensing presents to all these people I love? It was hard. In Costco one day, I had to go back and hide in the appliance section and sobbed into my cell phone to our oldest son, (RR was not available by phone) "I don't want to do this, I don't think I can go through with this, it is too hard, I want to buy presents, everyone about me is buying for the people they love and I am just getting GROCERIES. I can't to it."
He proceeded to tell me in a pretty firm voice, to "snap out of it."
Which I did - sort of - as I sobbed and blubbered my way through the check out and all the way home.
Looking back, how silly of me.
The gifts continue to give...and I know for sure that next year I will still remember what we gave one another this year.
Stumble It!