A Little CHIRSTmas Cheer

It's been a rough couple of weeks. And I've haven't been as happy as I should have. I haven't been as service orientated as one should be during Christmas.

When did I figure all this out? Funny you should ask.

Last Saturday, the train was finished and it was the "preview day." The train now runs from Salt Lake to Provo, quite nice if you don't have a car and have to rely on public transportation. Kevin and Julia (my aunt and uncle in Lehi) asked if I wanted to join them on the train preview day to go up to SLC and see Temple Square lights. I wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to see them or temple square lights, so I agreed. What I did not know was everyone and their DOG wanted to take the train! So I got to the train station at 3, to be on the train at 3:30 and didn't get on the train till about 5. And, of course, it was freezing cold with WIND. So here's a picture of me and my excitement...

Anyway, I got on the train, met up with my uncle Kevin and my 3 little cousins on an overpacked, warm, train to SLC. Julia decided to drive, just in case the train going back was as overcrowded as going up. She picked us up and we headed to Temple Square.

First of all, City Creek? Beautiful. I love the church, haha. It's a great shopping center and so nice, especially at Christmas time! We crossed the street in the light SNOW and headed over to the temple. We went around by the viewing pond, took some pictures, and then walked to the side of the temple. I took a picture of Kevin and Julia, then asked them to take a picture of me on my phone.

As I was studying the picture on my phone, my back was to the current flow of traffic when someone tapped me on my shoulder. I turned around, expecting someone to ask me to move. Instead I was handed a white envelope and heard "Merry Christmas," from a blonde woman pushing a stroller.

I opened it up and it was a simple card that said "JOY" with $20 inside. I was really kind of shocked. My initial reaction was to ask my aunt if I looked like I was homeless, or a poor college student and my uncle said it's probably just a tradition in their family to hand out cards to people at Temple Square.

My soul was touched. A tear fell down my face. It was such a simple gift, an act of kindness, and in all honestly I don't need $20. My parents help me out with college, and I feel extremely grateful and blessed for that. So why did this happen to me?

If you haven't been involved in my life in the past few weeks, it's been finals and I've had a really rough time on top of that, with drama and the possibility of one of my dear friends not coming back to school. It's been HARD. After this experience, I realized I was going about things all the wrong way. I was relying on friends and family and I'd rant, rave, and was just super unhappy with everything. After this experience, I knew I needed to rely on my Savior and his Atonement. I knew He has felt everything I have been going through. I started praying and received a blessing from my awesome home teacher/FHE dad. Everything that has happened since has run smoothly. And if it hasn't, I've felt calm.
I realized through this simple Christmas gift from a complete stranger, that Christmas is way more than presents and gifts. It's the Spirit of Christ and a reminder that He is my Savior.

Merry Christmas to all. And may we remember the true spirit of CHRISTmas.