Christmas Letter

Caleb:

If I understand correctly, you'll be reading this letter at a mission Christmas conference.  It's a nice gesture of your mission to ask us to write you on this occasion.  I suppose that a lot of letters at this time of year run the risk of making a missionary more homesick than less.  Not this letter...

I do an adequate job of writing throughout the year although some of my messages are too short and others too long.  Maybe a few might hit the mark.

For this letter, I've decided to channel my inner bard and plagiarize "T'was the Night Before Christmas".  Here goes nothing.

T'was the weeks before Christmas, when all through the land

Investigators pondered, a lot about the plan;

The missionaries had worked with their hearts and their might,

In hopes that commitments would kept aright;

On top of the work that had taken its toll;

Missionaries thought of home and their love it did grow;

And each in his own way, had said a quick prayer,

In hopes that their families would think of them there,

When among the heavens there arose such a clatter,

That each in their heart wondered what was the matter.

Angels were excited, and heaven abuzz,

With word that answers were coming from above.

All those prayers from the families at last had been heard;

And heavenly blessings within earthly hearts stirred.

To missionaries there came a calm peace in their hearts;

The spirit bore witness that their work hit the mark;

To investigators who wondered the spirit did work,

And cautioned them all from the truth not to shirk.

The spirit of Christmas was felt far and near;

And those thoughts of home, although they were dear,

Became less important when the vision did renew,

In the hearts of the elders and sisters clear thru,

That but for a moment, and one all too brief,

Each had been chosen, to put the world in relief;

The blessings were given, the vision was clear,

To teach the gospel to all that would hear;

And it's this great message that'll set the world right,

So, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas... Very.  I love you so much and am thankful that you're my son.  Keep your positive attitude... never let anyone take that away from you.

Dad