Merry Christmas Everyone!!
First, let me share with you one of my favorite Christmas
messages. A ward member gave this to us, and I had never seen it before. Maybe some of you have.
"Last year, I began to feel that I should attempt a
Nativity painting. This of course was a very daunting idea, but I figured the
best place to start was with research. I began with Luke 2:7, “And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in
a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
I also came upon an article of archeologist, Jeffrey R.
Chadwick, and found it eye opening and inspiring. Jeffrey R. Chadwick has
worked in Israel as a researcher and field archaeologist for over thirty years,
specializing in the backgrounds of biblical narratives. He suggested that the
manger would have most likely been carved out of white limestone, one of the
most abundant natural resources in the Israelite region, and showed pictures of
many similar mangers they have uncovered on archaeological digs. And while we
like to think of the baby, “asleep on the hay”, he also states that this was
also unlikely, as grass was available on the hills surrounding Judea year
round. They really would have had no need to store hay, and the mangers were
most likely used for water.
I also learned that while we often think of “swaddling bands” as
scraps of fabric, showing the poverty of Mary and Joseph, they were actually a
big part of Israelite culture. When a young woman was betrothed she immediately
began embroidering swaddling bands, which were 5-6” wide strips of linen that
would be embroidered with symbols of the ancestry of the bride and groom. Thus
the bands symbolized the coming together of the two families as one. They also
symbolized the integrity of the woman, as she strove to make both sides of the
embroidery match exactly, symbolizing to her soon to be husband that she was as
good on the inside as she was on the outside. These bands were then wrapped
around the hands of the couple at the wedding ceremony. So the bands the Savior
was swaddled in may have included the lion of Judah and the stem of Jesse.
As I wrapped my head around these rather mind altering ideas, I
realized that many of the concepts that we have of the Savior’s birth revolve
around paintings of European artists from centuries ago. I’m sure they painted
according to the best of their abilities and knowledge, but I also wondered why
more modern painters had yet to illustrate these concepts. I felt up to the
task and began sketching right away. I picked up limestone from a stone yard, I
bought linen from the fabric store, and just in time one of my good friends had
a baby boy, and oddly enough, his name was Luke. I put all these components
together and created this painting.
As I’ve sketched and worked, my heart has been so full as I’ve
uncovered this image. For when you take away the Hollywood drama, the
traditions of centuries, and the wood and the hay, all you’re really left with
is a babe in white linen on white stone. And my mind immediately went to the purpose
of the Savior’s life: He was born to die. He came as the sacrificial lamb for
all mankind; so how fitting that He would begin his life on a stone altar of
sorts, and be wrapped in white linen, like he would after His death. And of
course He would be placed in a trough for water, for He would be Living Water,
and would bring life to all. I also found myself weeping for the Father, and
how it must have felt to see His Son begin life foreshadowing His death. My
heart was so full of gratitude that He would send His Only Begotten to be the
Savior for us all. That He would send His Son, the King of Kings, and Lord of
Lords, to die so that we all might live. What good news, what comfort and joy,
what a gift was given to us all. O come, let us adore Him." -Jenedy Paige
I love what the artist says in that last paragraph.
So we tried really hard all week to invite all of our
investigators to the ward Christmas party. It's a great opportunity for them to
feel the spirit, and get to know people. We were pretty bummed out when no one
showed. But we were half way through dinner when one of the women in the ward
came and found us, and said there was someone on the church phone in the hall
that wanted to talk to one of us. Just before she handed me the phone she said
it was a women named Christina, who wanted to know about the Church.. I
panicked because I've never taught a lesson without my companions! Let alone
over the phone.
Christina told me that she's been looking for a church to attend
for a while, and heard a little about Mormons that she wanted to understand.
(way to go to the source Christina! too many people are willing to just believe
what they hear, without giving themselves the opportunity to know for
themselves). She was so sincere, and sweet. She said she really needed to feel
God in her life, and was hoping He would help her find the right way. She
looked up the nearest LDS church, and called the number listed. The spirit was
so strong, even though it was just me standing in an empty hall talking to a stranger
on the other end of the line. Heavenly Father had been preparing Christina for
a long time. It probably took so much courage for her to make that call! And
what are the chances that the whole ward was in the building on a Saturday
night, so that someone was there to answer the phone. We are going to go meet
Christina tonight, I'm so excited. It was such a sweet Christmas blessing.
We weren't able to get a Christmas card made.. So MERRY
CHRISTMAS FROM US!
I love you all, with my whole heart.
Love Sister Teirsa Smith
