This week has had its ups and downs. Eric, a convert of one year, with an unreliable car, found an apartment just four km from the church and even closer to his job. We made 3 trips to his old apartment 40 km away on Tues. and Wed. to help pack, load and begin cleaning. Unfortunately, by Thursday Tom was coughing and aching and by Friday, my nose was running and I was coughing and without energy. Needless to say, we have had an isolated hot-lemonade-and-honey weekend with a few Christmas movies thrown in between the naps and lots of vitamin C. We are hoping to have conquered this before Ben and Christy arrive Tuesday evening.
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| Sunrise over Le Creusot from La Marrolle |
I was so impressed with the experiences shared in the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I will always think of Sister Porter when I sing the line of O Little Town of Bethlehem - Yet in the dark street shineth the everlasting light. She has known the dark streets and the light. I will remember how the General YM President learned about sacrifice on his first Christmas in the mission field in Brazil. Eight children, their mom, and grandma watching him and his companion eat the dinner joyously prepared just for them and likening this to the Saviors gift of the atonement. Am I receiving the gift that he willingly gave? Pres. Holland's plea to be a family to someone who is alone, who needs to feel accepted, to feel at home. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus all knew what it felt like to be away. I loved Pres. Eyring's words, carved into bread boards….J’aime et J’espere…..because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can feel of his love and have hope in his words. As we think of gift giving, let us give simple acts of kindness. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are the things Jesus taught. Let us partner with him.
Sometimes we learn lessons in strange places. I was forced into a comparison of two participants on My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV). One a successful seller of a computer company, who was buying a 2.5 million dollar vacation home with a pool, hot tub, several bedrooms, bathrooms etc. and the other, a very modest couple who had little but said they always had a bowl of rice for anyone who needed it. They had won 5 million dollars on a scratch off ticket. Their budget for their dream house was 250 thousand dollars. It needed a kitchen big enough to cook for a large group and a large yard so people could gather and feel at home. The host made a comment that he could tell that they were givers not takers. The last clip of the show was the man cooking a huge pot of soup and many people being welcomed in the back yard. Interesting fact, as we age, the most significant characteristic for a happy life is relationships.
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| Our boulanger's window |
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| Community tree at Place de l'Hotel de Ville |
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