T'was The Wednesday Before Christmas

We've been struggling a bit since we moved abruptly in August. Partly because we were very happy where we were. However, we felt strongly that we were supposed to move. We fought what we wanted to do and did what we were suppose to do. That being said, at times it has felt like we jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. My in-laws have been struggling even more than I could have imagined and we have been trying to help them as much as possible...which hasn't been much since it took Sam several months (yes, months) to find a good job. With the holidays approaching life in general seemed like a cruel joke. We teased that the kids were going to get I.O.U.s for Christmas. The sad part is we really weren't teasing. We tried to focus on the true meaning of Christmas instead of the commercialized materialistic meaning of Christmas that we are all bombarded with. All the while I worried. Sam started his new job the end of November but, the way pay periods fell we didn't know until a few days before Christmas whether we would be able to have gifts for our children. The Wednesday before Christmas my father-in-law finds wrapped Christmas presents on our front porch. I came down stairs that morning to find gifts under the tree for my children and a card for Sam and me. I open the Christmas card made out to Sam and Holly to find a precious handmade card with a beautiful heartfelt Christmas wish and "We love you"; there was no signature. Enclosed was a generous monetary gift that left me humbled, grateful, and emotional. I have NO idea who was responsible for this very thoughtful and loving gift...I like to think of them as angels. I can tell you that I felt the true love of Christ that day. These angels were commissioned by my Heavenly Father to deliver a message to me. The message being that my Savior is aware of my worries and trials. He is mindful of me and He loves me. This too shall pass and I will be stronger for it. If I am faithful everything will work out as He has planned for me in His time. I still don't know who delivered those gifts but, the spiritual gift they gave me was much greater than the tangible gifts. They have strengthened my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and for that I am forever grateful.