Good morning family and friends! I am so excited about this Christmas season. A time when we can celebrate Christ and all that He has done for us. Our mission has been extended the invitation, by our mission President, to study the life of Christ before Christmas comes. As I've been reading there's been a couple of things that have struck me. One of my favorite stories I've read so far is in Matthew Chapter 14. Before any miracle is performed, Jesus sets such an amazing example to me. At the beginning of the chapter, we find out that John the Baptist has been put to death. When Jesus Christ finds out about this it sounds like He's pretty devastated. He departs from the crowd and tries to go to a place where he can be alone, only the crowd follows him. And instead of Him turning them away and telling them He wants to be alone to talk to His father, He welcomes them and feeds them. This is where he performs the miracle of feeding the 5 thousand with the fish and loaves of bread. His actions have forever changed me.
I've been in a biking area for about 4 and 1/2 months now. And let's just say, I didn't think i was that fit before the mission, and I definitely know now that I am not fit at all! Haha! Every day we get on these bikes to ride them up a long hill to get to the rest of our area and boy do my legs burn! About a month ago while i was being my crazy stupid self, I fell and hit my head and received a concussion. (Sister Hansen plus dancing while ice skating doesn't equal anything good haha!). Ever since then I've had a pretty good headache combined with some sweet nausea. Now lets just say, we have a lot of bike time and during this time I often think to myself. Lots of times I complain and get angry about having to ride a bike when I don't feel good.
Last week we went to a lesson. We've had a bit of a problem with one of the leaders in the ward, but this lesson was at his house. There were 2 times while being at his house that I felt a little bit attacked, and frustrated with the situation.
But then, as we sat there teaching the plan of salvation, we started talking about the Atonement that Jesus Christ performed on our behalf. And immediately i was filled with the spirit. Lots of things hit me at once.
The first thing was that, Jesus Christ in Matthew 14, had every reason to send the people away. He could have told them to leave because he wanted to be alone and mourn the death of His friend. But He didn't. He kept working. He made sure everyone was taken care of. He pressed forward. He stuck to God's plan. And he did this exact same thing on a greater level in the Garden of Gethsemane when he suffered for all of our sins, and sorrows, and pains. He asked His father if He could not do it! If there was another way! But when there wasn't, He followed through on what He was sent here to do.
If Jesus Christ can do all of that, and continue on still, Then I can continue riding my bike. I can continue working and trying my best even through some of the pain. I can continue testifying even when I'm not in the most pleasing situation.
The second thing that hit me is that Jesus Christ loves us so much. I cannot figure out how to put into words how much he loves us. But, in the garden He felt every single thing, every person on the earth, at anytime on the earth has ever felt, but He felt it all at once. And He did this because He loved us. There is no other driving force that would allow Him to continue that. Not because He knew He had to be obedient. Not because He didn't have a choice. But because He loves us. And He knows exactly what I am going through. He knows exactly what a single mother is going through. He knows exactly how someone being evicted from their house a month before Christmas feels. He knows how the missionary who lost both his parents while on his mission and returned to serve anyway feels. He knows how the woman struggling to ask for a priesthood blessing because she doesn't have a priesthood holder in her home feels. He knows how the addict who is struggling to make life better feels.
Because He knows all of these things, He knows exactly what we need to feel better. And that is the Reason He came to this earth. That is the Reason we celebrate Christmas. Is because of Him And the good news that we have that we are not alone. And that we can find joy, no matter the situation we're in.
As I sat in this lesson and testified of all of this, I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. I know that this gospel is true. I know Christ has me in this situation right now for a reason. I know that biking and feeling sick and being frustrated with people is nothing compared to what others are feeling, but I know that Jesus Christ doesn't care that it's a small thing. He knows it's hard for me and because of that He will help me get through it. In fact He will help me enjoy it. And He can do the same for anyone, for YOU, if you just open your heart to him.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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