Merry Christmas.

JoAnn Arnold

I know I should be writing from the author part of my brain, but I just got back from buying all the food items I will be needing to make the tummies of 6 grandsons and 3 granddaughters content, along with their parents, and the only thing I can think about is the joy of Christmas and the birth of the Savior. I once asked myself "If I was on the earth when christ was born, would I have believed?"

He performed miracles. He healed the sick. He raised the dead - yet there were those who scorned him.

He brought comfort to those he touched. He taught us patience through his patience. He taught us love through his love for us - a love so deep that he died for us - yet there were those who turned away from him, even his own disciples.

Where would I have stood? I pray that it would be the very place where I stand today. Beside him.

My youngest son, Kray, served a mission in Bulgaria when Bulgaria was first open to the missionaries. His experiences were remarkable and emotional. The people he taught hungered for the teachings of Christ. When Communism took away their freedom to worship, many years before, they could not even speak of Christ. In fact if they were asked if they believed in Christ and their answer was "Yes," they were shot.

Because they would not deny Christ, they made a decision that would save their lives. from that day "no" would mean "yes" and "Yes" would mean "no." Now, when the soldiers asked, "Do you believe in a Christ?" they would simply shake their heads 'no', and the soldiers would let them pass. Communision could not take Christ from them. They held him in their hearts until they could worship him opening, once again.

Our freedom is a special gift, a miracle from a loving Heavenly Father.

Christmas is the season to recognize all of the blessings and the miracles that have been given to us, so I want to put on my author's cap and say that I believe that we, as authors, have been given the blessing or perhaps the miracle of imagination so that we can write stories of value in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Just as Pres. Uchtdorf said, "The more you rely on the spirit, the greater your capacity to create."

I believe that is true . . . no, I don't just believe, I know that is true, and I think all of you know that too.

So my christmas wish to you is this; Do not pray for tasks equal to your power. Pray for power equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, you shall be the miracle." (I don't know who penned these words but I know whoever did, was inspired).

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.