For unto YOU...

Merry Christmas week!! Oh man am I excited as ever, I feel like a little kid again and I haven't even thought about the presents that came in the mail a few days ago! I just love this Christmas spirit that is going around like influenza a. Seriously though, that flu is ravaging the Kirksville schools, or so we hear. Good thing I got my flu shot! And there you go, I'm rambling about local disease outbreaks. Onto more important things. It snowed last Thursday but it's gotten to a lovely climate here in Missouri, up the 40s and drizzling!

Onto even more important news, really. This past week we had Zone Training Meeting in Quincy, Illinois this past week and that was a treat cause the Assistants were there with a totally rad training on the qualifications for baptism. Moral of the story, the Lord does not have a nice little measuring stick and does not say, "oops, your spirituality and knowledge has gotta be this tall to be baptized, sorry." Nope. They are qualifications vary with everyone, that's why an 8 year old and a 50 year old with a doctorate degree can be baptized! It might be boring to you to read, but it was amazing for us missionaries to realize and it helped Sister Paul and I so much. 

There is a valuable lesson I wanna share that surrounds the birth of Jesus the Christ. In Luke chapter 2 verse 11 an angel appears to shepherds as they watch their flocks. There are so many lessons to be learned from this encounter, but in verse 11 the angel says "For unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." The angel chose to use the word you. Interesting if you think about it. He could have said "unto the world" or "unto mankind." but he didn't, he said "you." That is a direct and personal word. The Savior, our Savior, Jesus Christ came for YOU. From his very being as a premortal spirit, to his first breath as a little baby, to his death and ministry in the heavens, He came for YOU. It is an amazing blessing and very near unfathomable to realize that one man existed for the whole world and for each and every one of us, very personally. May we remember who came to the earth for us. Forget the presents, lights, and fruit cake for a good fifteen minutes please. Or longer, which would be better. Remember Him who came for YOU, for He truly is the THE GIFT. 

God bless you all this Christmas season,

Sister Skaggs

Post Script.
christmas.mormon.org 
see it and share it with everyone!