“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” Micah 5:2
As Christmas draws near, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush. In fact, it’s not just easy—it’s inevitable! There’s so much to do. On top of our regular routine, we have gifts to purchase and wrap, meals to prepare for, the house to decorate and clean for family and guests coming into town - the list goes on and on. It’s usually a race to the end. In terms of the bigger picture though, what’s the rush? What do we imagine the finish line to be? In our modern, sophisticated era we get impatient and annoyed when our cell phone or internet connection lags for two or three seconds. This sense of immediacy, of expecting instant results, gets played out in obvious and subtle ways. No one is immune to getting swept up in the rush - in the rush to make more money, to make a name for themselves, to get the latest and greatest gadget, the bigger home, fancier car, etc. Even children get bored with childhood and rush to grow up. But in this rush to get to the next “best thing,” important things are lost or compromised: our health, our families, our marriages, our commitment to the Church and God. This is why our attention is drawn back to the little town of Bethlehem, to the birth of our Savior. As Christmastime approaches, let us remember to take a ”time-out,” a quiet moment each day, either in the morning or before we go to bed, to thank the Lord for the “little things” in life - the gift of freedom, the ability to think like the angels and make good choices, the gift of the Heavenly Doctrines. Out of these seemingly little things will come a Ruler. Let us become like a “little child” again; let innocence reign—let a humble, willingness to be led by the Lord be the “little thing” which counts the most.