The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things. ~~ Thomas S. Monson

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RAOK: Let someone else pick what to watch on TV

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Still, Still, Still -Tabernacle at Temple Square Choir
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rflf6NEQ6I&list=PLVt5sQWN7Py9PlMHKxeP4TXH8gSBIEKt3

Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star it's vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come

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Normally the post on the 24th is the final post of the year, but because of the connection problems I have experienced, there will be one more post – tomorrow.  I love reading and one of my favorite authors growing up was Jules Verne.  I’m sure that he is France’s most loved and most read author.  I read “20,000 Leagues under the Sea” and “Journey to the Center of The Earth” more times than I can count.  I used to lay under the covers with a flashlight at night, reading about Phileas Fogg and how he made a bet to do the impossible – to circumnavigate the world in 80 days.  He traveled by train, by balloon, by stagecoach and by elephant accompanied by his servant, Jean Passepartout.  (I took French in school because I loved that name!)  Bad things happened along the way.  He was mistaken for a bank robber and hunted by “Fix” throughout much of the book.  He discovered a young widow about to be sacrificed in a funeral pyre with her husband’s remains in India.  He rescued her.  He was spied on, Passepartout was kidnapped - he rescued him.  He missed his connections.  What can I say, it’s an exciting book.  He finally made it back to London and discovered that he was one day too late.  He missed the deadline by 1 day.  Tragic.  It’s so sad.   Then he discovers it’s not too late.  He forgot about the international date line!  He got to his club, went through the doors and proclaimed to one and all, “I’m here.”  What does that have to do with Christmas?  Each of us is on a journey back to God.   At times it seems so hard, almost impossible to accomplish.  We don’t know how to manage the trials and obstacles we face.  We find ourselves saying, “Where do I go from here?  Do I have time? We do.  Thanks to Our Savior, he provides us with the time we need.  Thank you for Your love, for Your example, for Your guidance, and happy anniversary of Your birth. ~~ Marilee

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Christmas Bells

Few sounds gladden the heart like church bells ringing. In days gone by, villages full of people gathered to the sound of bells. On Christmas Day, church bells rang far and wide resonating with hope and goodwill.

The story is told of a village where the church bells stopped ringing for many years. No one really knew why. But Christmases had come and gone without bells echoing against the mountainside. The townspeople were concerned. They began to think it had something to do with their offerings. So they put more jewels, more treasures, more of everything on the altar. But the bells remained silent.

Then one year a boy named Pedro and his younger brother set out from their humble home, miles from the church, to attend the wonderful Christmas Eve service they had heard so much about. The boys walked through the wind and chill more than half the day and into the night so they could join in the festivities. But just as they entered the city, they saw an old woman lying in a bed of snow. She was cold and weak and barely breathing. Pedro could not pass by without helping. He looked into the distance and knew that he would miss the service, but he asked his little brother to go ahead and take his only silver coin, still warm in his pocket, and place it on the altar. Pedro stayed with the woman and helped her. He did not hear the organ play or the choir sing, but he did hear the bells ring -- for the first time in many, many years. The people said the bells started ringing when Pedro's little brother dropped his silver coin onto the altar. No one in the Church knew why -- but Pedro did. He had given away what he wanted for himself to help someone else.

This year as we hear the Christmas bells chime, remember the wondrous gift that was given so long ago in Bethlehem. As we selflessly give, we too will hear the bells on Christmas Day.