Chrsitmas is the WARMEST time of the year...

...well, not the weather here in Utah. 

and definitely not in Idaho.

It's interesting that the Christmas season is during the coldest part of the year,

yet everyone talks of the warmth they feel inside of themselves during this time. 

It seems to me that Heavenly Father has a bit of a sense of humor!

(I guess some parts of the world are still warm, but that defeats the purpose of my post,  so pretend you didn't just think about it!) 

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm in a rut, like  I'm not going anywhere. The days are all exactly the same, the basement we're living in is a disaster and I'm too lazy to clean it, my face is getting older looking and wrinkly, I'm just all around lazy.  

I've been having this pity party "of why me?" For different reasons,

getting frustrated with our Realtor, loan officer, and bank, not understanding why it has taken so long to close, having no sympathy or understanding for people around me, wanting to strangle every last first grader that comes into my room, and so on and so forth. I'm not real sure why I've been feeling this way. 

Monday, for FHE Dan and I went to the Christmas Oranges Benefit Concert at Jordan High School. 

I heard about it on the radio, and I love going to any type of musical concert, so I made Dan come along with me. 

Poor guy had a headache, and was so tired, but came anyway. 

On our way there, we argued with each other a little about how impatient each other was. Mostly me, I'll admit it! And I have zero patience, especially for some reason, right now.

We got to the concert late, and one of the first songs this AMAZING pianist and celloist (sp?) played was "O Come O Come Emmanuel"

This is my favorite Christmas song. I'm not sure why. Growing up for some reason, it's the one that always caught my attention. I think it just captures the true meaning of Christmas and how without Christ, we are nothing. Plus I love the melody and the music behind it. 

The pianist introduced the song as a song we don't normally hear around this time of the year.  Normally, Christmas songs are happy and cheerful, this one however, is very solemn and almost monotone. 

He told us to listen to the music and really dig deep inside. 

It was the most beautiful arrangement I had ever heard, and before I knew it I was crying, I didn't even know why. 

The lyrics to this song are: 

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

 

I read somewhere that for the people of the Dark Ages-few of whom read or had access to the Bible-the song was one of the few examples of the full story of how the New and Old Testament views of the Mes­siah came together in the birth and life of Jesus. Because it brought the story of Christ the Savior to life during hundreds of years of ignorance and darkness. 

 

As I was listening to this song, I felt the spirit testify to me that Jesus is the Christ, and that not only did he come to this earth to atone for us, and therefore, bring us out of captivity, but that also, we should be rejoicing because He will come again. 

 

Because of Him, death is not the end, life has meaning, and we can repent. 

That is what Christmas is all about. 

On Monday, I realized that THAT is why O Come O Come Emmanuel is my favorite Christmas song. 

Whatever troubles or annoyances I was feeling, I am going to put them aside. 

This is a time to celebrate Christ, and I am so thankful for the peace, warmth, and happiness He brings to me.

so therefore...Christmas is the WARMEST time of the year! :) 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!