TJ Hirst

Long ago, an angel of the Lord announced the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord, but then came a multitude of heavenly hosts—a whole choirs of angels—singing and praising God. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

In the modern world, Jesus Christ and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long promised “dispensation of the fullness of times.” (Ephesians 1:10) The Living Christ: A Testimony of the Apostles

On my Living Christ Christmas Tree, this ornament hangs as a symbol of the restoration of Christ’s gospel message being trumpeted by an angel (see Isaiah 27:13). I rejoice with the choirs of angels long ago to know the way I can come unto Christ today.

Each ornament symbolizes my testimony that Jesus Christ was not only born one Christmas Day, but that he ministered and taught, atoned for our sins, died, and was resurrected.

Some other ornaments that I have not shown include a medical symbol for the healing of the sick, white handkerchiefs tied as angels to represent Christ being baptized to fulfill all righteousness, and a mirrored box to show how our lives reflect the “matchless gift of His divine Son.”

Indeed, He is the Living Christ. Have a Joyous Christmas.

Try-It With-Me Tuesday, an interactive weekly time and place to foster connections that challenge and encourage the process to become a well-rounded person.

When I challenged my class to develop an attribute, I chose one, too—virtue.  I’d been reading Luke 1:26-56 with them and looking for Mary’s qualities that helped her prepare the way for the birth of Jesus Christ. I admired this woman who was “blessed . . . among women,” for her courage, her faith, and her virtue. Now, I don’t just mean virtue as the Virgin Mary, but the moral excellence, righteousness and goodness she must have carried in her heart and expressed in her actions before and after the Savior’s birth. For this Christmas and the coming year, my gift to myself is to seek virtue.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. . .
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.
Proverbes 31:10, 25, 26

What attribute would you like to develop?

Ryan at Oktober5 gave me a gift for Christmas—he’s guest posting today so I would have at least one thing to be grateful for.  He’s giving with a goal to give 100 squares for Christmas. Today you can read his witty and insightful style here, but at Oktober 5 you can see more writing, photographs and design. Visit him here and there, and shower him with comments so he might come back again. - TJ

Santa Claus is coming to town, and that can only mean one of two things. One, you’ve been naughty and you’re going to get nothing but coal; or two, you’ve been good and you’re going to get exactly what you deserve.

It’s a nice feeling to get a gift that we really deserve. Michael Phelps received 8 Olympic gold medals, and most would say he  deserved them. He seemed to feel happy about it, and for good reason, too–he worked hard for them.

Christmas is a wonderfully fantastic season. Kids work hard all year trying to be as good as possible so as to not taint their Christmas morning hopes. Adults, especially parents, adopt a different perspective. We like to give. It is more work than getting, but the reward is sure and guaranteed to be deserved. We work in order to give, and in giving discover a renewed sense of spirit, self-worth, gratitude and joy.

Giving feels good. This year I decided to create a 100 Squares for Christmas wall. The idea was that people could ask for a gift, be it something small like a link to their page, or something large like a guest post. That was only half the idea; the other half was that I would feel exceptionally good about myself. I wanted my 8 gold medals, my well-deserved feeling of joy for doing my part to give whatever I had to give.

My expectation for this project was simply this: That a hundred people if not more would sign up, I would fulfill their simple need, they’d be happy, I’d be happy, and somewhere in the process I would become unbelievably famous and wealthy.

If you haven’t already learned this lesson, however, you need to know that giving is not about recognition or monetary gain. Giving is about love. Remember that guaranteed reward from giving that I mentioned? Well, it’s only guaranteed if done in love.

When I started this project, I expected a showering of love from the heavens for being so generous. I was wrong. Love doesn’t come from giving; giving comes from love. We show love by giving, and love shown in sincerity is rewarded.

My reward came only as I saw the love in what I was doing. The response I got from my idea was completely positive. Some were even envious and created similar walls of their own. I gained my reward when I could see that what I was doing was helping others feel a similar sense of the Christmas spirit. As Abraham Lincoln said, “When I do good, I feel good.”

Not as many people as I had hoped signed up for a square. Even fewer asked for anything more than a link. However, I received exactly what I deserved, which happened to also be the thing I wanted: happiness.

Since Sunday I’ve learned to blow snow in the middle of a snowstorm and shovel during a wind chill advisory. I’m ready for a lull so I can stay inside by the fire and just look at it. My Giveaway: Anyone who wants to come to Minnesota can have all the snow you can carry home from my yard. You, too, can enjoy a white Christmas. Just leave a comment and tell me how much you want.

The Question: Have I Seen the Hand of God Reaching Out to Touch Us Today?

As I give and receive Christmas cards this year, I’m reminded of my first Christmas card from my husband 18 years ago. We were not married or even engaged yet when I went home from college to visit my family for Christmas, but I knew he was the one I wanted to keep. My feelings frightened me, but the  homemade card and love notes he sent during the two long weeks away reassured me.

I pleaded with my parents to change my ticket so I could go back early. Of course they couldn’t understand;  they kept asking, “Why can’t you wait?”

Ironically, we were engaged two days after I returned to college.

Just the same, when my baby sister announced this summer that she was engaged and her wedding date would be Friday, December 19, I couldn’t understand the timing, either. I said something like, “Couples in love seem to be in their own world.”

I tried to express the practical matters of my world to help her see my perspective, just like my parents expressed theirs to me long ago at the kitchen table: “It’s the worst time of year to travel.  The cost. The weather. The school schedules. Our commitments. . .”

In the middle of all these “commitments” I sat on the floor with a pile of old handwritten cards and love notes, still in the old envelopes with 25 cent stamps, from our two weeks apart at Christmas. And, I remembered how it felt. Yes, couples in love are in their own world.

With my cards in the mail, packages wrapped, the baking finished, the entertaining over, and my heart prepared, I’m ready to say, “It’s no better time to be with a new couple in love. And, that’s just where I want to visit this time of year.”

Congratulations, little sister, on your wedding tomorrow!