This morning I've fixed my gaze on our sparkling tree several times as I've walked back and forth between the kitchen and the bedrooms to get kids off to school and I keep reflecting on the tender feelings that were mine last night as our little family and my parents cuddled up in blankets in the chilly basement to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. We popped popcorn and squeezed our bodies in tight together on the couches in our messy family room while we listened to heart-warming messages from our church leaders.
I got a kick out of Buddy - thought it was funny that he was watching us instead of watching the TV. He wasn't going to miss out on a dropped popcorn kernel for anything.
The messages were beautiful and touched my heart in ways that will stay with me through this Christmas season, but most tender were the feelings I had for my family as the Spirit washed through me, springing up gratitude in my heart. Brita moved from her spot on one end of the couch to come sit next to me on the arm of the other end for a few minutes. I rubbed her back and then she moved back to her original spot. Meg perched herself on the arm of Jared's chair until all of the popcorn in the big bowl was gone and then she roller skated around the room for the remainder of the broadcast. Leah threw her legs up on the "chaise" part of our sectional sofa right next to mine and laughed when I tried to give her sore leg a massage.
My spirit and my heart were full last night. And this all followed the previous couple of nights where harsh words and cold glares were exchanged because someone was walking too close to someone else on the sidewalk. The contention that night in SLC was pushing me to the edge and I was ready to crack myself in two. But then this blessed night came along and told me that all is well and I believed again that there is a wise purpose in families.
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