from Britney

A friend of mine shared an experience his wife had with their daughter a few Christmases ago. She sat down with the young child to help her write a letter to Santa. The mother began writing: “Dear Santa, this year I have been…”

She paused and turned to the little girl to ask whether she had been naughty or nice. At first, the child wasn’t sure how to respond. After thinking for a moment, she insightfully replied, “Just say that I was happy!”

The lesson this wise little one expressed through her response to a tough question is one that we learn in Healing Through Christ. Step Five reminds us that “even though we have made mistakes, we are still precious children of a loving Heavenly Father.”¹ Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through repentance, we can overcome the sorrow of our errors, and we can feel happy.

Our failures in life are part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us. He sent us here to grow, and mistakes teach us powerful lessons. He doesn’t shame us when we make a wrong choice, and we don’t need to do that to ourselves. We are not bad people. Elder Boyd K. Packer taught: “You are a child of God. He is the Father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!”²

Although Santa Claus might deny gifts to those who have been naughty, our Heavenly Father wants to give us many gifts. We only have to be willing to receive them. He does not require perfection. His gifts come when we choose to turn to Jesus Christ and invite His healing grace into our lives. His gifts bring joy and peace.

Instead of thinking about yourself in terms of “naughty or nice,” consider whether or not you are feeling the joy that comes from placing Christ at the center of your life. If not, you can ask Heavenly Father for help.  He wants you to be happy, and He will lead you there if you put your trust in Him and faithfully follow His guidance. If you make more mistakes along the way, just keep trying. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland reminded us, “God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are, and with His help, where you are willing to go…every day ought to be the start of a new year and a new life. Such is the wonder of faith and repentance and the miracle of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”³

¹ Healing Through Christ – Help, Hope, and Healing for those who have a loved one in addiction, 51

² Boyd K. Packer, “To Young Women and Men,” Ensign, May 1989

³ Jeffrey R. Holland, “Remember Lot’s Wife,” BYU Devotional, Jan 2009

The Christmas season can be both joyous and stressful as we celebrate our Savior’s birth, while trying to meet everyone’s expectations, including our own. Spending more time with family can be enjoyable or difficult, depending on the health of the relationships. How about giving yourself a gift that will keep on giving?

The Healing Through Christ Family Support 12-Step meetings will be starting a new series beginning the week of Sunday, December 8^th. While any time is the right time to start the 12 Steps, people often want to begin at the beginning—here’s your chance. And this time of year is the perfect time to provide an hour of peace for yourself, an oasis of self-care and reflection in the midst of a busy, giving time of year.

The Family Support group was originally designed for people with a loved one in addiction, but it is equally valuable for

• People with strained relationships with loved ones
• People with a history of trauma
• Those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, whatever that loss may be—death, leaving the faith of their childhood, strained and unhappy relationships
• Men and women struggling with their own attraction to an addiction
• Those who are resisting the allure of perfectionism
• People who simply feel overwhelmed by life and its demands
• Those who are in pain, emotional or physical

As you can see, anyone can benefit from the Twelve Steps—they bring us to Christ and help us to be honest with Him and with ourselves about what is and what is not in our control. We develop the ability to recognize and release the things we cannot control and find strength to change the things—primarily within ourselves—that need to be set right.

Won’t you join us? Will you do this for yourself and join a supportive, loving, safe group of people who will walk with you on a path to greater peace in your life? Will you be with us each week as we celebrate the tidings of great joy, and find the peace which passeth understanding?

Call into a meeting today—you can just listen until you are ready to speak. There are meetings every day of the week, mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Meeting information is available at www.thearborkalamazoo.com/phone-in-meetings or you can message us for more information.

The Twelve Steps of Healing Through Christ will change your life. You will feel greater peace and happiness. Give yourself this gift and feel the power of the Redeemer of the World as He heals your soul.