It Has Officially Begun....

 December has begun, and with it so many time-honored and beloved traditions.  Most of what we have loved about Christmas can be observed in lockdown - even here in Oxford.  We will miss being with our family, but with the magic of Facetime and the internet, we can speak often to them, and in some ways have more meaningful conversations.  I'm thinking of David, who calls when he gets the urge to visit, and we visit!  Face to face.  It is wonderful

It is also the time to begin "Light the World," a Christmas initiative begun several years ago.  We were in Denmark at the time it was rolled out - on our mission and I was absolutely enchanted with the magnificent spirit it brought to Christmas.  

In a later year, I was in Utah with Lia in December.  One night we bundled up against the bitter cold and drove into Salt Lake to attend a session in the Salt Lake Temple.  It was wonderful.  Later, we walked around the temple grounds in the frigid cold gazing upon the beautiful lights and colorful decorations.  We walked over to the magnificent Joseph Smith Building to get a hot chocolate.

We saw crowds abuzz with delight.  It was after 9 pm and there were families, with little ones perched atop the shoulders of their fathers, or in strollers gazing upon the wonders in front of them.  The object of all this excitement?  Three machines, Light the World Giving Machines.  

We stood in line and finally found ourselves in front of one of the machines.  It was a vending machine, but what delights they held!  We put in our credit card and purchased....a goat!!!  A goat that would enrich a family somewhere in the world who were in need.  We giggled as we made our choice.  What a sweet feeling.





Every year since, SK and I have excitedly waited for the Light the World machines to open in Gilbert.  People stand in long lines to purchase something for someone else.  They stand in the cold (yes, it does get cold in Gilbert Arizona) and they are generally animated and happy as they show their little ones what they will buy and tell them how much it will mean to someone.

I am sad to say they will not be available this year because of the pandemic.  But they will be back next year.  The church has encouraged us to find other ways to give.  We'll do that.  

In the meantime, there are so many short and inspiring videos to watch to bring the spirit.  Like this little 3 minute Light the World video.

https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world-2020

Or this beautiful nativity video...my all time favorite:

https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world-2020/the-christ-child

Have a happy happy December!

Comments

melissa said…
We haven’t watched that! We need to! And I’m sad about the giving machines. 😕
December 4, 2020 at 6:00 AM
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