The Gift Of The Comforter

This week, we had a lot of things that really brought the spirit. With it being the week of Christmas, we were often with family and often speaking of Christ. What a blessing to have this wonderful time of year to singularly remember our Savior's birth and life. 

We also had moments of silent, individual time which allowed for reflection and introspection. Regretfully to recall, I also in these moments had times when I was overcome by sadnesses. Don't worry, nothing bad actually happened this week, but while going through my files of memory, I was reminded of sad things, such as the passing of my grandfather. With regrets of "what I could have said" or "what I could have done", tears would begin flowing and the dark feelings arise. How thankful I have been for the blessing of the comforter, for in these hours when I felt overwhelmingly alone, I was able to call upon my Lord in prayer and ask for his comfort to protect me. It was a very powerful testimony to me, as I lay crying alone, that immediately upon my asking, The Lord blessed me with peace. 

Later in the week, I was with my husband's family, celebrating Christmas. I had a beautiful opportunity to share the peace of the spirit with my Mother-in-love (no, that is not auto correct, that's what we call it.  it's not the law that binds us, but love), Becky. When I was 5, my maternal grandmother passed away. Even though I was very young an didn't really know her in this life, I have always felt a very strong connection to her. I always wished that I could have known her better. Becky's mother passed away while she was in only her teens. In about a week an a half, she will have outlived her mother. For Christmas, she gave all her daughters, including me, a book called "Christ's Gifts to Women". Inside, she wrote an individualized message to each daughter. Being the only daughter-in-law, I was surprised to receive one as well. She had written these notes, thinking of her mother, and wishing her mother had written something for her. The sweetness of this act overwhelmed me as I thought of my own grandmother and the wish for tangible memories of her love. Becky and I shared in that moment, a sense of connection that was far beyond the boundaries of mortality. I am so thankful for her attention to the spirit as she reached out to me as a daughter and as a sister in the kingdom of God. I am so thankful for the blessing comfort through the spirit and for the connections that exceed this world. 

At church yesterday, we had two little girls, who had been baptized the day before, receive their conformation and the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a blessing it is to know that have this gift, to have his spirit with us at all times. 

I pray that the Comforter with always be with you in this coming year. I am so thankful for that blessing.