This story was shared with the 1st ward Relief Society on Sunday. We received permission from Sister Shirlean Stone to share this on our blog.  This is a beautiful true story about giving and receiving, from a beautiful, sweet sister in our Stake.   
Thank you Sister Stone and Sister Williams!

The Christmas Doll Parable

By Peggy K. Williams, (written as she remembers Shirlean telling her.)

My husband and I had the pleasure of living next door to Kay and Shirlean Stone for several years when we were first married. We were additionally fortunate to have this sweet couple as our home teachers while we lived in the Lehi First Ward. It was during a home teaching visit one December that Shirlean shared the following Christmas experience from her childhood.

As a child, Shirlean loved her dolls. She had a special place in her room just for them. Despite the fact that she played with them often, they were kept in perfect order and condition because she cherished each one dearly. While all her dolls were loved, Shirlean had one doll of which she was especially fond. Of all her dolls Shirlean thought this particular doll she had named Diane was the most beautiful.

One December day when Shirlean was 9 or 10 years old, her mother came to her and told her there was a nearby family that was struggling financially. Shirlean’s parents had decided they wanted to make Christmas a little merrier for this family and they extended the invitation to their children to help. There was a little girl in the family that was about Shirlean’s age. Shirlean’s  mother asked her if she’d like to give one of her dolls to the neighbor girl for Christmas.  Shirlean thought it over and agreed.

“Now which doll do I give away?” she thought to herself.  Shirlean studied each doll, made her selection and took her second favorite doll to show her mother. “Well, if that’s the one you want to give her, okay,” her mother said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Shirlean felt a twinge inside as she walked back to her room. She knew how she loved to receive nice things. She also knew that her second favorite doll’s hair didn’t look quite as beautiful as Diane’s hair. Her second-favorite doll also showed the wear of having been ‘loved’ longer than Diane.

“If Jesus had to pick which doll to give away He would give Diane to the little girl,” Shirlean thought to herself. Once the idea ‘I want to be like Jesus’ entered her mind, Shirlean knew what Jesus would do. She knew He would give His best, and she picked Diane too!

With her very most favorite doll in her arms, Shirlean and her mom went to visit the family. As her mother briefly explained the purpose of their visit and handed the parents a box full of Christmas cheer, Shirlean offered their little daughter her beautiful, beloved Diane. Shirlean’s emotions were mixed as the transfer was made. But once Diane was nestled in the little girl’s arms, Shirlean felt complete joy. The little girl’s lips curled into a smile of appreciation as she hugged her new doll. The visit was brief; Christmas wishes were exchanged; and the door closed behind them.

As Shirlean and her mother returned home, a warm feeling spread through her little body bearing witness that she had given “the good gift” and that Jesus was proud of her act of charity. “This is a beautiful Christmas,” she thought to herself.

On Christmas afternoon  Shirlean  and her family piled into the car to visit nearby friends. With the small house full of four adults and the children from two families,  Shirlean and a her friend decided to take a walk. The two girls engaged in conversation as they continued for some distance. Suddenly  Shirlean recognized the house she and her mother had visited earlier to deliver the Christmas goodies. Her smile at the memory faded quickly as her eyes caught sight of something lying in the snow. In disbelief her brain tried to make sense of what she saw. Diane? That couldn’t be Diane! Her beloved and beautiful Diane was lying askew on the cold frozen snow.

Immediately tears welled up in Shirlean’s eyes. How could her “good gift” be left abandoned in the snow? How could the little neighbor girl care so little for the doll Shirlean sacrificed to give her? There was a lump in Shirlean’s throat. A lump that repeated swallowing would not remove. Shirlean had never felt this way before.

Later Shirlean poured out her heart to her mother. Tears streamed down  Shirlean’s cheeks as she relived her devastation. A very wise mother then taught her that they had given their gifts to cheer up the family and to make the little girl happy. That purpose had been accomplished. She continued to say that Heavenly Father blessed Shirlean for the perfect gifts he gave freely. He didn’t bless her for the way the gift was received by another.

Shirlean never forgot the lesson she learned at Christmas so many years ago. Her mother’s words have guided the way she has chosen to give throughout her life. Always she gives “the good gift” to others and leaves the rest to Heavenly Father.

What a touching story. Every time I think of Shirlean’s experience I am reminded of another gift. The gift I refer to was given at Christmas time over 2,000 years ago when a loving Father in Heaven sent His Son as a gift to every soul who had and would be born on this earth. Our Father loves His Son in ways we can’t begin to comprehend. Truly He loves His perfect, obedient Son just as His Son loves Him. We are the recipients of their love—each and every one of us whether we accept that love or not.

I wonder when our Heavenly Father looks down upon His children if He shakes His head in disbelief. I wonder if His eyes well up in tears at what He sees His children doing with His gift. I wonder if His heart aches when He sees that His gift to the world is cast aside or left “lying on the snow”?

This wondrous, amazing gift was freely given. To accept this gift all we need to do is live our lives as our Father and His Son would have us live.

I invite you to ask yourself this question: “Have I accepted His gracious gift with love and appreciation?"

In Luke 2:19 it says,

“But Mary kept all these things,

And pondered them in her heart.”

I have been thinking about that scripture and everything it teaches us.  I have thought about the things that Mary ‘kept’ and what ‘all these things’ were. I have also been thinking about what she may have ‘pondered in her heart.’ What a thought provoking scripture on motherhood. Heavenly Father trusted Mary, because she had a mother heart.

On the Mormon Channel Relief Society Program, Sister Sharon Eubank interviews Sister Julie B. Beck on the role of Motherhood. It is a message that can strengthen all women.  To listen click on the Mormon Channel Relief Society Program to the right hand side of this blog, then scroll down to select episode and click on the arrow. Click on episode 11 - Motherhood, in the Question and Answers section.

Gifts that come through ‘treasuring up’ the truths of the gospel…

“Regardless of your particular circumstances, as you become more and more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Become scholars of the scriptures – not to put others down, but to lift them up! After all, who has any greater need to ‘treasure up’ the truths of the gospel (on which they may call in their moments of need) than do women and mothers who do so much nurturing and teaching.”

Quote from Spencer W. Kimball, found in: “Daughters in My Kingdom,” pg. 50.

Presidency Message

December Relief Society Newsletter Message-

                        From Sister Kay Sampson

To Latter-day Saints the Christmas story from Bethlehem to Calvary should take precedence over the tinsel and the toys, for the Savior is the center of Christmas.

Christmas gifts should be in memory of the divine gift, the life of Jesus Christ. His gift gave us eternal life; our gifts should be gifts that will bring joy to those who receive. His gift was the sacrifice of his earthly life; our gifts should represent personal sacrifices on our part.

How can we give to the Lord? What shall we give Him? Every kind word to our own, every help given them, is a gift to God, whose chief concern is the welfare of His children. Every gentle deed to our neighbor, every kindness to the poor and suffering, is a gift to the Lord, before whom all mankind are equal. Every conformity to the Lord’s plan of salvation – and this is of first importance – is a direct gift to God, for thereby we fit ourselves more nearly for our divinely planned destiny.

Would it not be well this Christmas to give first to the Lord, directly through obedience, sacrifice, and love, and then to give to Him indirectly through gifts to friends and those in need as well as to our own? Should we do this, perhaps many of us would discover a new Christmas joy.

We would hope we can try to open our hearts a little more each day and not wait for the Christmas season. A gift given or an expression of kindness may be more unexpected and appreciated in July than in December.

President Faust said, “The angel who heralded the Savior’s birth stated that His coming was to bring great joy to all people. The blessings which flow from the Atonement and the Resurrection are available to us each day and throughout all eternity. At this Christmas season I believe there is much reason for hope for greater days ahead. Despite our personal challenges or difficulties or worldwide problems, we can take comfort in the knowledge that the Savior is leading this Church.

May the Lord bless each of you this Christmas Season with love and gratitude for your families and those you serve.

Merry Christmas,

Sister Kay Sampson

Our Gift to Him…

“Considering all that the Savior has done – and still does – for us,

What can we do for Him?

The greatest gift we could give to the Lord at Christmas,
or at any other time,

is to keep ourselves unspotted from the world,
worthy to attend His holy temple.

And His gift to us will be the peace of knowing
that we are prepared to meet Him,

whenever that time comes…”

By Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

December 2011 Ensign, “The Peace and Joy of Knowing the Savior Lives.”

Simple ways to Strengthen Home & Family...

Christmas gifts as Simple Reminders -

“The best gift I have ever received came from my grandmother and consists of two items: a pillowcase and a necklace with a locket. Although they are simple items, they mean a lot to me. My name is written on the pillowcase with glow-in-the-dark letters, and below my name it reads, “Did you think to pray?” Whenever I have jumped into bed without praying, the glow-in-the-dark words remind me to kneel and pray.

The locket holds two pictures: one of me and one of the Savior. While the pillowcase reminds me to pray at home, the locket reminds me to be like the Savior at school and other places I go.”

From, “The Best Christmas Gifts,” New Era, December 2007

Well, today is December 1, 2011…

                Yesterday I was thinking about what the best gifts of Christmas are, and so I thought that each day during the month of December I would think about and try to give in some small way…a Christmas gift of my heart…gifts meant to honor our Savior, Jesus Christ.

                A few years ago, I came across an idea that caught my attention, and so I will share this idea with each of you…

It is called, “The Five Gifts of Christmas.”

During the month of December, give a gift from your heart, to five different people: a friend, a stranger, a person in need, the Savior, and an enemy. This last gift is a difficult one, because it requires us to think about someone who may have hurt us, and it requires us to open up our hearts to forgive.  In Matthew 5:44 it says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (from a 2003 BYU Women’s Conference talk entitled “Seeking to Forgive,” by Heidi S. Jones)

I know we honor our Savior and show our love for Him as we learn to walk the path he has walked.  We can do this as we rely on Him and His loving Atonement. His way is the only way to peace and happiness.