christmastime thoughts

It's easy for me to feel like my Christmas season doesn't kick in until I finish up finals and go home. I listened to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional at the beginning of the month and felt struck by the First Presidency's reminder to place our focus this season on building our relationship with the Savior and coming closer to him.

I decided that a good way to learn about the Savior would be to read about him, so I have been focusing my scripture study this month on the accounts of Christ's life found in the New Testament. I finished Matthew today and what has impressed me most in reading has been the attitudes of the people in Christ's time who sought him.

Men and women followed him to sit at his feet and learn from him. They did not hesitate when he called them to service and they sought him for healing. Christ does not walk on the earth anymore, but his love and power are just as much available to us. I cannot physically sit with him and hear his sermons, but I can study his teachings and the teachings of his prophets and apostles. I can serve him and invite his spirit into my daily life. It's easy for me to neglect my relationship with the Savior, but I'm going to try to place more of my focus on him.

I'm grateful for this Christmas season. Even though I was in the midst of finals for a chunk of the season, but I have constant access to a loving Savior who came to earth to give us his power and love. That's where I'm trying to focus my celebration.