A LONELY CHRISTMAS
After my divorce in 1984, I needed to move away from the area - four hours away. Being four hours away from my two sons was so difficult. I accepted a secretarial job in New Hampshire at a Social Services office. Christmas was coming, and I didn't want to deal with it that year. A few days before Christmas, I knew by the weather report that I wasn't going to be able to drive home, it would be too dangerous. I sadly stayed in my too quiet apartment. Christmas morning came with clouds and snow. I didn't want to get out of bed, I thought it would go away because I wanted it to. There were three or four gifts under the tree. I couldn't open them, I wanted to call my sons back at home. I dialed the number and asked for either one of them. I was not prepared for their reactions. They were excited about the gifts, and I was so lonely and sad because my life was different from theirs. I held back the tears and talked with them and asked them what gifts they received. They had no idea how I was feeling inside. After a few minutes, I had to say good-bye -- it was too difficult. I had never felt such a feeling of sadness, loneliness, and despair. I didn't like Christmas, I couldn't feel the spirit or joy that I had felt in years past. Why was the Lord allowing me to have these awful feelings at a time like this? There were three or four gifts under my tree. I reached for a gift from one of the counselors at work. It was a quart canning jar with a pretty decorated lid. On the front of the glass jar was a little poem about messages. I began to realize that inside was 365 strips of paper with short messages, one for each day of the year. Some of them were from the scriptures, some were quotes, and others were common sense. I was taken back by the thought that this family typed all of these, made many copies, cut them up, and placed them in this jar with a pretty cover. They did this with love and it helped me feel the true meaning of Christmas. The pain and despair feeling began to be replaced by the wonderful feelings of the warmth of the Spirit, with love and compassion. The Lord gave me a wonderful gift of love. He knew how I was feeling. How scared I was in a strange place away from home and my sons, whom I loved dearly. I began to feel what Christmas was all about again. The warmth began to give peace to my soul, I began to relax and trust again. I was so overwhelmed with the Spirit that I soon forgot the pain, and was taught a very wonderful lesson. No matter what happens to us, our Father in Heaven is still with us, He loves us very much. There are wonderful people in the world who live and love the Gospel and share their hearts with us. I am never alone, and have never felt alone again. It was a wonderful Christmas again, and I was so thrilled that my Father in Heaven had not forgotten me. In turn I could go and share my feelings about Christmas with others. It was the gift of our Savior. He gave to us, and we are in turn to give to others, so that this wonderful Spirit never dies. I will never forget that Christmas how and it changed my life. ~by Darlene Nicholes --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
