Lights

The excitement of the holiday season has passed, all of the gifts are open, the carefully chosen wrapping paper and matching bows are in the trash. Our tree has been taken down, garlands are put away and the stockings are packed up in the attic. There are remnants of Christmas still around our small neighborhood, some white or colored lights on bushes, wreaths still on doors, and the occasional inflatable "Ho-ho" (as Sadie calls Santa), lying unfilled, limp in a yard. We went for a walk this morning, the air was cold, and good 'ol Jack stings your nose and ears just as he had been before Christmas, but for me, there was no magic to be found in it.

As we pass a white metal tree that spirals to the ground covered in colored lights my Sadie yelled, "Look Mama! Christmas!" I turn to see her dancing around it, completely oblivious that the magic is gone, Christmas is passed and won't be again for another year.

When we drive at night she shouts, "Look! Christmas lights!" as we pass red and green street lights, or, even the simplicity of lit porches.

President Faust said, "We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store." Wonderful was Christmas and all the presents we gave and received. Far better still, are the gifts we share all year, pieces of ourselves, our very best selves, that we give. I am so grateful that Sadie has no concept of time--no idea that Christmas passed, or that Christmas has a "season,"--the magic is not gone. Any light is a symbol of the magic, and our Savior, and that gift is enough for her.