That's what I'm telling myself, because for some reason this year has been hard for me to realize that it's Christmas. I guess it takes the realization of my birthday coming up to realize it's also Christmas.. (Which to tell you the truth, still hasn't hit me yet) It would probably be a good idea for it to hit me soon, seeing as I have absolutely NONE of my gifts ready yet, and Christmas is in 5 days.... We'll see how that goes...
Today for sacrament meeting, we did our 'Christmas program' I thought it went really well, seeing how practically everyone was sick... Christmas songs are my favorite. They're just so pretty and they bring such a great spirit. Well our Relief Society president spoke today, and in her talk she told this story. The copy I found came from a talk by James E. Faust called 'The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope'.
It's a great story, every time I hear it, I get a little (or a lot) teary eyed. You've probably heard it before, but I figured I would share it anyway.
Some years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley told “something of a parable” about “a one room school house in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough no teacher had been able to handle them.
“Then one day an inexperienced young teacher applied. He was told that every teacher had received an awful beating, but the teacher accepted the risk. The first day of school the teacher asked the boys to establish their own rules and the penalty for breaking the rules. The class came up with 10 rules, which were written on the blackboard. Then the teacher asked, ‘What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’
“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response.
“A day or so later, … the lunch of a big student, named Tom, was stolen. ‘The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old.’
“As Little Jim came up to take his licking, he pleaded to keep his coat on. ‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’
“The boy took off the coat. He had no shirt and revealed a bony little crippled body. As the teacher hesitated with the rod, Big Tom jumped to his feet and volunteered to take the boy’s licking.“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ the teacher asked.
“After five strokes across Tom’s back, the rod broke. The class was sobbing. ‘Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. “Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!”’Doesn't that story just hit you? I love how Christmas is not only a time to remember hope and giving and peace, but also to remember the Atonement and everything Christ went through for us.
Christmas time is so.. I don't even have a good enough word to describe it. I love everything about it. I went with a couple friends the other day up to temple square. I love going up there, it's so beautiful and lovely. We had a blast, even though it was cold and the gas station ran out of hot chocolate... Don't you love those times when you come away with so many of those little inside jokes? Baha. Meagan took some pictures, so hopefully she gets those up soon... ;)
Well I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a great break from school and work and whatever you get a break from :)
Merry Christmas!!!
That was read in our sacrament meeting, too. It's really touching!
ReplyDelete