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!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

 Find out what it means to me

- Aretha Franklin

  Actually, to me respect means a lot. The world today doesn't encourage us to stand up for our morals, especially in our appearance. This is terrible. We live to a standard, and we should look like it.

 "Servants of the Lord have always counseled us to dress appropriately to show respect for our Heavenly Father and for ourselves. The way you dress sends messages about yourself to others and often influences the way you and others act. Dress in such a way as to bring out the best in yourself and those around you."

- President Thomas S. Monson

  I read a story recently about Muhammad Ali and how he reacted when one his daughters was wearing some less than appropriate clothes. He handles it like the champ he is, here is the story as told by one of his daughters: 

  “When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged as many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, 'Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get to them.' He looked at me with serious eyes. 'Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.'”

  Our bodies are sacred gifts from our loving Heavenly Father. We should follow the council of Aretha Franklin and respect them. You'll find new confidence and assurance in the way you appear if you will simply respect yourself.