Maybe Christmas, Perhaps, Means A Little Bit More

How the Grinch returned Christmas

 A Grinch blog during Christmas time? Predictable? Perhaps. Applicable? Absolutely! The Grinch is my favorite Christmas story, because it truly helps us to understand the meaning of Christmas. To quote Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "Perhaps the Grinch’s story is so memorable because, if we are honest, we may be able to relate to him. Who among us has not felt concern over the commercialization and even greed of the Christmas season? Who hasn't felt overwhelmed by the packed calendars, the stress of finding gifts, the pressure of planning meals and events?". During this stressful time of the year we, like the Grinch, too easily forget why we are celebrating.

   The Grinch who hated Christmas had stolen all the presents in Whoville in an attempt to stop Christmas, and this is where we find him. At the top of Mt. Crumpet he waits for the sleeping who's to wake up and find their Christmas gone, and return to their homes full of shattered dreams. Or so the Grinch thought... The following is taken from his own account:

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.

It started in low, then it started to grow.

But this sound wasn't sad!

Why, this sound sounded glad!

Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,

Was singing without any presents at all!

He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming! It came!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling. "How could it be so?

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"

He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.

Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!

And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say

That the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day!

  The Grinch had a change of heart, and spent that Christmas returning the things he had taken and serving others. He found the real meaning of Christmas, and real happiness with it. I pray that we, like the Grinch, can realize that Christmas can't be bought in a store. That Christmas for us means a little bit more. That we can give meaningful things, like our time and service. I promise that as we emulate the Savior who's birth we celebrate, our hearts will be filled with His spirit and His love.

Merry Christmas! I sure do love ya!

There's so much to be thankful for

  Anyone who says there aren't songs for Thanksgiving doesn't listen to Josh Groban. Josh Groban sings a song called Thankful, it's a wonderful song with a powerful message. 

Somedays we forget

To look around us

Somedays we can't see

The joy that surrounds us

So caught up inside ourselves

We take when we should give.

  This is a wonderful world we live in, there is beauty all around us, but how often do we see that? If your reading this then you are on a computer, on the internet, what a blessing that is! We focus on ourselves so much that we miss all the little miracles around us. You are loved by your Father in Heaven, you have a Savior who suffered for not only your sins but your pain and sorrow! We have given the gift of repentance so that we can come closer to our God in this life, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us and guide us. If there was ever a time on this earth that God has blessed his children it is now.

"The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!” - Joseph F. Smith

  Be that grateful and loving soul, and spread it around. Do something for someone else this Thanksgiving. Give everyone a reason to be as happy as we are. Truly we are blessed far more than we deserve, and those blessing don't begin in November and they don't end in December. I'll end the same way I began, with Josh Groban. Take it away Josh.

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for

Can you feel the love tonight?

  The Lion King is one of the greatest movies of all time. I love it's story, I love it's songs, and I want to be just like Rafiki when I grow up (but that's a blog for another time). The songs are what this blog is about, one song in particular...

Can you feel the love tonight?

The peace the evening brings

The world, for once, in perfect harmony

With all its living things

Can you feel the love tonight?

You needn't look too far

Stealing through the night's uncertainties

Love is where they are 

It's such a good song, and it poses an interesting question. Can you feel the love tonight? Is it where you are?    There have been times where I definitely did not feel the love. But why is that a big deal? 

  "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35) The Savior said it best. He has commanded us to love each other, that should be the thing that defines us as Christians. Love is the center of all the we believe, and love should be where we are.

Where love is, there is no disputation. Where love is, there is no contention. Where love is, there God will be also. -Thomas S. Monson

In brightest day, In blackest night

In brightest day, in blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight

Let those who worship evil's might,

Beware my power, Green Lantern's light

  The Green Lantern Corps. is a shining light in a universe full of evil and unhappiness. They police the galaxy to protect everyone from darkness and fear. But how do they overcome all that evil? Willpower! They have the will to do whats right, and help others, and that will becomes light. They have no room for fear, or doubt, because they are filled with righteous determination. They protect and serve others because they want that light to shine. They want others to enjoy peace and happiness, and they do everything in their power to give them that peace.

  My favorite scripture is; "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you." (Doctrines and Covenants 50:24-25) I love the idea of shining brighter and brighter until we outshine our darkness. But how do we grow brighter?

  Jesus Christ taught us "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."(Matt 5:14-16) "Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do."(3 Nephi 18:24)

  Christ taught us that we should hold up our light that it might shine unto the world. And the light that we hold up is the things Jesus taught us to do. Jesus Christ taught us to serve,  to love, to be diligent, and He taught us to share that with everyone. Then we will feel our light begin to shine. Then the light we feel will shine for others too, and they can enjoy that same happiness. "Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations." (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5)

  "When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did."  -Henry B. Eyring

I pity the fool that doesn't love Mother's Day!

"We are living in a great season for all women in the Church. Sisters, you are an essential part of our Heavenly Father’s plan for eternal happiness; you are endowed with a divine birthright. You are the real builders of nations wherever you live, because strong homes of love and peace will bring security to any nation. I hope you understand that, and I hope the men of the Church understand it too."
 -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The scriptures* have a lot to say about mothers and how amazing they are:

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also,and he praiseth her.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Mothers are the most powerful force for good on this planet. They have the patience and long suffering of Job, the strength of Samson, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the courage of David. Your mom shapes your life, from the second your born, and makes you what you are today. And don't you forget it!

Motherhood is the most sacred calling of them all. To be trusted with bringing souls into this life is something beautiful and amazing, and more than that, to raise that soul in a loving environment where it can be nurtured and grow. It must be hard, it certainly looks hard, but I know it must be worth it. I hope that everyone can remember their moms this Mothers Day, and make it a special one for her.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a mother that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

I love my mom so much, she's the best. She put up with me for my whole life, and this is no small feat, and not only did that but did it with a smile. There's only one way to express my love for her, and that is by Mr. T's Mothers Day Rap:

Mother

There is no other

Like Mother

So treat her right

Mother

I always love her

My mother

So treat her right, treat her right

M is for the moan, and the miserable groan

from the pain that she felt when I was born

O is for the oven with it’s burnin’ heat

where she stood makin’ sure I had something to eat

T is for the time that she stayed up at night

and took my temperature when I wasn’t feelin’ right

H is for the hard earned money she spent

to keep clothes on my back and try to pay da’ rent

E is every wrinkle I put on her face

and every worry that I caused when I stayed out late

The last letter R is that she taught me respect

and for the room up in heaven that I know she’ll get

She’s a Queen

Second to none

Take care of Mother

You only get one*

*Proverbs 31:17,20,25,26,28,30

*Mr. T's Mothers Day Rap