My Christmas Moment
“Many years ago in a small town in the southern part of the state of Utah, my great-grandmother was called to be the president of the Relief Society. During this period of our Church’s history there existed a very bitter and antagonistic spirit between the Mormons and the Gentiles.
In my great-grandmother’s ward one of the young sisters married a Gentile boy. This of course did not please either the Mormons or the Gentiles very much. In the course of time this young couple gave birth to a child. Unfortunately the mother became so ill in the process of childbirth that she was unable to care for her baby. Upon learning of this woman’s condition, great-grandmother immediately went to the homes of the sisters in the ward and asked them if they would take a turn going into the home of this young couple to care for the baby. One by one these women refused and so the responsibility fell completely upon her.
She would arise early in the morning, walk what was a considerable distance to the home of this young couple where she would bathe and feed the baby, gather all that needed to be laundered and take it with her to her home. There she would launder it and then return with it the next day. Great-grandmother had been doing this for some time when one morning she felt too weak and sick to go and perform the service that had become her custom. However, as she lay in bed she realized that if she didn’t go the child would not be provided for. She mustered all her strength and went.
After performing this service she, and I suppose only with the help of the Lord, was able to return to her home and upon entering her living room, collapsed into a large chair and immediately fell into a deep sleep. She said that as she slept, she felt as if she were consumed by a fire that would melt the very marrow of her bones. She began to dream and dreamed that she was bathing the Christ child and glorying in what a great privilege it would have been to have bathed the Son of God. Then the voice of the Lord spoke to her saying, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me.”
(anonymous story quoted in Cat’s Cradle by Chieko Okazaki)
I was thinking the other day while I was driving (doesn’t it seem like many of the best epiphanies come while we are driving?) about something I’d said to my sister-in-law, Marla, when we were staying at her house over Thanksgiving. The babies hadn’t handled the travelling and holiday craziness well, and one night they were both having a hard time settling down to sleep. I was dealing with Andrew, and while I did so, Marla just held and rocked Alice while the wee girl screamed her head off and eventually fell asleep. I was so, so grateful for her help. What I was even more grateful for was that she enjoyed giving the help. It was clear that she really loved my daughter and wanted to comfort her.
What I said to her was, “Thank you for loving my kids.”
My sister has often said (something to the effect of) “The best thing you can do for me is do something for my kids.” And now that I’m a parent, I understand what she means. I love these two little people more than anything else in the world, and there is nothing anyone could do for or give to me that is worth more than seeing my children happy. And if you can help with that, that’s a gift to me.
It seems like I’ve often heard the comment in Sunday School or Relief Society lessons that being parents ourselves gives us an insight into God’s love for us. And I expected, and have felt, this. But what I didn’t expect is the insight into God’s love for everyone else. But as I drove through the suburbs of Denver, my precious children in the backseat, I realised why the scriptures entreat us over and over:
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)
“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:17)
“Jesus saith to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?’ He saith unto him, ‘Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.’ He saith unto him, ‘Feed my lambs.’
“He saith to him again the second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?’ He saith unto him, ‘Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.’ He saith unto him, ‘Feed my sheep.’
“He saith unto him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?’ Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, ‘Lovest thou me?’ And he said unto him, ‘Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:15-17)
Because He loves all people more than anything else in the world, and there is nothing anyone could do for or give to Him that is worth more than seeing His children happy. And if you can help with that, that’s a gift to Him.
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