Don’t Quit!

Only 3 more days til Christmas Eve! I’m not ready yet!

As we were driving home a couple days ago I was listing to my husband ALL the things on my list that I wished to get done but hadn’t yet, I lamented like little Sarah in the video attached “I can’t!” We drove down a street of cheerfully decorated Christmas home but just at this moment past a home with a big sign posted in the front, “I QUIT!” It stood overtop a pile of tangled up Christmas lights. We both roared with laughter understanding all too well this persons pain! At this very moment I felt all too much like throwing my hands up and stating the same, “I quit.”

Yes, it may be a hassle, it may be hard, there’s a lot on everyone’s plate at Christmas but there’s very good reason in the end to keep moving forward in our uphill battle, just like little Sarah:

We may fall down, we may have to rest, but if we persevere we can be prepared for Christmas, we can overcome in life. Just don’t quit.

I love this encouraging quote from elder Uchtdorf in considering Christmas:

“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?”

“We know what the Christmas season ought to be…We know it should be a time of reflection on the birth of the Savior, a time of celebration and of generosity.“

Pres Uchtdorf suggests that we take time as individuals and families to “study and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. . . . When we prepare for Christmas by pondering its real meaning, we prepare to experience the Christ and His message.”

He shared three ways that we can prepare for Christmas:

• Rejoice in the Savior’s birth.
• Ponder the Savior’s influence in our lives today.
• Look steadfastly for the Savior’s coming.

Reading his reminder suddenly fills me with hope and light! I don’t have to have every gift bought or made that I wanted to give; don’t have to have the Christmas cards out on time; don’t have to have the house quite as pristine as I’d like it, just so long as I have the love of God in my heart and bring and bless my family with this Christmas cheer, the true reason for the season.

We have a favorite Christmas tradition that my daughter Mikela reminded me we haven’t done this year!! We sit by candlelight (25 days marked on a candle and read scriptures stories of Jesus). Thankfully we HAVE been reading the New Testament as a family each evening but I think I will pull out a candle and make tonight special so that my children do know THIS is the most important part of Christmas, He IS the very means by which we may overcome ALL things, reach our fondest dreams, and realize our greatest expectations.

So just keep climbing that hill of life just like little Sarah here! Don’t quit! You CAN do it! You’re almost there!

Merry Christmas!!

Love, The Hoffmans

P.S. Some quotes that empower me and mine:

“Look to God and Live”!

“Pray always that ye may come off conqueror!” (D&C 10:5)

“Hope cometh of faith, and maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” -Ether 12:4

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 3 Nephi 31:20

You are AWESOME!  YOU can do it!!!