Cameron’ Christmas Miracle Matters

 Matters of Light This Christmas, A Cameron Story

I was feeling very Christmasy. I was completely immersed in “Christmas with the Chosen” and had just watched an episode of Studio 5 called “End 2020 on a Positive Note” with Dr. Liz Patel and Brooke Walker when Jim called with this Christmas-miracle story: He had taken Cameron to buy a suit for Christmas. This is because Cam has lost about 90 pounds, and his suit from many years ago literally hangs on him. They went shopping at Mr. Mac. Cameron was bubbling over with excitement and thrilled to find out that he could get a $300 suit AND a second one for $1 more. Cam loves to shop! As Jim went to the counter to pay for TWO suits, the miracles began. Two free ties! Then, the unexpected. Another customer in the store, a kind and generous soul, had already paid $200 on our bill! The tears began to flow—from both of my guys. A Christmas pay-it-forward. Cameron had been shopping for a week for co-workers and family, but this. . .! What a little miracle! It changed Christmas for us forever.

 

So, Dr. Liz’s list of ways to end 2020 on a positive note should include just one more thing:

#1. Look for the cosmic Christmas miracle in the SW sky, beginning Dec. 21 just after sundown when Jupiter and Saturn align!

#2. Look for the joy that doesn’t meet the circumstance!

#3. Look for the needs and causes close to you!

#4. Look at Christmas through the eyes of a child!

#5. Look for ways to spread warm “hugs” of emotion!

AND bonus #6. Look around for good, generous people sharing what they have with someone who needs to know that they matter.

 

Watch the segment on Studio 5, and then add your mental image of a kind person at Mr. Mac’s, who made a young man with Down Syndrome feel like the most important and loved person today!

 We have two Christmas trees this year. It’s a long story, and it happened through a series of unfortunate events, but it’s the end of the story that I love. 

 

It is not easy at our age to set up and decorate a nine-foot tree and a seven-foot tree. A visit from my brother and his wife prompted us to push ourselves through the mess and the stress to finish it all. The old tree is one we call  our Santa-travel-family tree. We collect ornaments as we travel the world, and they are beautiful remembrances of people and places we love. This is also where we put our ornament gifts, received from students and families through the years. We have collected beautiful, whimsical, and homemade Santas, too. A few years ago we found little frame ornaments and added family pictures. We love this tree—even though we had to string lights this year.

 

The living-room tree is completely covered with all references to the Savior and the humble Nativity. I think that all the disasters that led us to the purchase and work of this tree were all worth it. It sits next to the piano where I play the old carols of the season. The lights and décor inspire me to play. It is another way for us to be reminded every day that our Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

 

My cousin Susan sent this message from Elder Christofferson (“Why We Need Jesus Christ”) in her Christmas card this year: “As Christmas approaches…dial down the ‘noise’, and take some time this Christmas season to reflect on the wonder and the majesty of the Son of God. . . to relax, be at peace, and see this little child in your mind. Do not be concerned. . .with what [may be] coming up in His life or in yours. Instead, take a peaceful moment to contemplate perhaps the most serene moment in the history of the world—when all of heaven rejoiced with the message ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men’ (Luke 2:14).” 

 

Amen!