It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas...

Actually, it starting sounding like Christmas on November 1. We could probably listen to it all year long, but I don't want to get bored with it. I want it to be special music for a special time of year. In fact, this year, I did something I've never done before. I took the time to get to know the lyrics. I wanted to pull out the lyrics that described what I thought Christmas was about. Some of them are just words pulled from songs, others are phrases. All of them are things that I want to remember about this time of year. Today I am going to share some of my favorites.

• Tis the season to be jolly! 
• Jolly= full of happiness and joy. 
• Let your heart be light
• The holidays are a reminder of missing loved ones (or not being married or not having kids or being away from family). These reminders are often painful and weigh down our hearts. During this season, we can take hope in the fact that because He was born, He was able to fulfill the requirements of the Atonement. This isn't a season to dwell on our losses. It is a time to feel the peace knowing that those losses will be made up for.
• Don't cry, I'll be back again some day.
• Okay. This was from Frosty the Snowman, but think about it in a different light. We celebrate Jesus Christ coming to Earth. Someday, we will get to celebrate Him coming again. That day, there will be no more tears.
• Making spirits bright
• I think there is definitely a theme to Christmas songs. Let the magic of this time of year touch your hearts, uplift your spirits, and renew your hope for the next year. 
• Offspring of a virgin's womb
• This is one of my favorite miracles. Jesus Christ had to be the offspring of God in order to fulfill his mission on Earth. He had to be the offspring of man to be subject to death and to understand the spectrum of feelings associated with being mortal. Because He was Mary's son, He can understand the trials I go through in a way that no one else can. 
• Let every heart prepare him room
• It is easy to fill this time of year with shopping, planning, decorating, baking, etc. Those things can all be important, but it is most important to make room for Him in our hearts.
• There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy
• Happiness, peace, and love come from the Savior. Nothing can replace that. 
• Laughing all the way
• Don't forget to laugh! Watch funny movies and spend time with family and friends sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
• Remember Him as you picture Christmas this year
• Plan ahead so that when you think about how Christmas of 2013 was, the Savior was at the center of your celebrations.

There were so many more, but they all reiterate the same message of Christmas: Focus on the Savior this holiday season and your hearts will be filled with peace and love. That will always be better than any gift you will receive. I hope that this will encourage you to listen to beautiful Christmas music and listen to the lyrics as you decide what you want your Christmas to be this year.