Every holiday season I find myself dreading the Christmas cards. As much as I love to hear about my friends and to keep in touch, the photos of families remind me that I am “behind,” that my friends are having multiple children while I am so grateful to have one child. For me the solution has two parts. Sometimes I just have to leave the Christmas cards unopened until I feel like I can be happy for my friends instead of covetous. With our busy schedules during the holiday season, I’m not always in the best emotional state to do that. So sometimes I wait until after Christmas, when everything has settled down. I’ve also discovered over and over that when I look to help someone else, I worry less about myself. Christmas is a wonderful time to think of others and to find ways to serve them, whether it’s by making candy and delivering it or participating in a Sub for Santa program or a similar program. Now that I finally have my baby, I love telling her the Christmas story and remembering that we celebrate Christ’s birth because He atoned for us (Alma 7:11-12). Because Christ suffered for me and can succor me, I know that with His help, I can be healed of my hurt and be happy for my friends and their families. And that hope in His healing is what most helps me during Christmas.

Alisa