This week on the spur of the moment I invited the women I visit teach (in our women’s group in our church we are assigned certain women to visit and look out for each month), and my visiting teaching partner (the woman I make those visits with) over for a simple little brunch at our house.

I love all those women so much and I’m so grateful for the chance I have to get to know them and be uplifted by their wisdom (I love visiting teaching).  I figured it would be nice for us all to be together rather than doing individual visits.  Let’s face it, it’s a crazy time for all of us so we could make it short and sweet, and also learn and love each other that much more.
As I was looking up the visiting teaching message for the month (I wanted to share a spiritual thought), I found that it was all about service.
Here’s part of it:
“We want to use the light of the gospel to see others as the Savior does—with compassion, hope, and charity,” said Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President. “The day will come when we will have a complete understanding of others’ hearts and will be grateful to have mercy extended to us—just as we extend charitable thoughts and words to others. …Our obligation and privilege is to embrace improvement in everyone as we strive to become more like our Savior.”

You can find the whole thing HERE.
At first I’ll admit that I was a little disappointed to see that thing, because I wanted something all wrapped up tidy about the birth of the Savior.  Something easy peasy and all Christmas-spirit-filled to share with these women.  Isn’t that what Christmas is all about after all?
But as I pulled out my meager brunch offerings for some reason this beautiful line from Joy to the World kept running through my head, even to the point of making me tear up:  
Let every heart prepare Him room.
And I realized, of course, that service IS about the birth of the Savior.  Strengthening the feeble knees” (one of my very favorite quotes from the scriptures) really is what Christmas is all about.  
THAT is how we “prepare Him room.”
If there is any “gift giving” to our Savior, even in the most tiny fraction of a degree, it is all, completely and overwhelmingly found in serving our fellow man.  Trying to understand hearts as we break down our own and serve and love to create our own contrite spirits that bring us closer to God. 
It flooded me with gratitude for the “LIGHTtheWORLD” initiative and all the little things we can do at Christmastime to “prepare Him room.”
Those wonderful women came over, we sat and ate overdone egg casserole and dry pumpkin muffins and to me that whole kitchen filled with thick love as we discussed life and the gospel and the beauty of preparing Him room with those women I love.
Now I’m off to prepare Him room by doing little things like turning on our Sunday music and giving my family some undivided attention before church.  I love the Sabbath.  The primary program is today…and also our piano recital…can’t wait.

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3 Comments

  1. I liked the quoted message. It reminded me of the adage: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."

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