Twelve Days of Christmas - Day One

When we were living in Victorville, our family was treated one year to something called "The Twelve Days of Christmas." For twelve days leading up to Christmas, we received an anonymous gift every evening. Each gift had a small note, verse or story that reinforced the TRUE meaning of Christmas. On the twelfth night, our "elves" revealed themselves.

It was a great treat for my kids and I. It became one of our favorite Christmas traditions. We had fun finding what we would leave and how we could tie it to the Savior. We had fun taking turns doing the "ding-dong-ditch" drop of the present and trying to get away from the front door being unnoticed. If there were no hiding places, we camouflaged the "dropper" so he/she would not be recognized.

One time the family we picked lived on a cul-de-sac. There was no way to hide the car or be unseen as we retreated. So, we parked a distance away and had one of my skinny little kids don a bulky knit cap and puffy big down jacket. Running away, they looked as big as a teenager! We totally fooled them that year! It was SO fun!

As a result of this tradition, I have a collection of stories and verses. I can tie almost ANY object to a gospel principle. I have decided that since there are twelve days left until Christmas, I want to share twelve of my favorites.

Here we go:

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed, where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, laid dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, "How could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him," he accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything and you let their cow die."

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I told him to take the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way we think they should. If you have faith in God, just trust that every outcome is always to your advantage.

"And we know that in all things God is working for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28.