From YA Weekly
Cultivating Spiritual Stillness at Christmastime
The author lives in Vienna, Austria.
When we focus on the silent, holy night of the Savior’s birth, we can increase our sense of holiness in our own festivities.
Have you ever considered the significance of the Christmas hymn “Silent Night”?
Though Christmastime is filled with lively activities, traditions, and upbeat tunes, this song has always meant a lot to me. It’s a reverent, beautiful tune that describes the still peacefulness of the earth on the night the Savior was born and reminds me that I need to make time for stillness and holiness amid my own holiday festivities.
The sense of holiness we feel when we ponder the Savior’s birth and what His life means for us can be so strong during this season, if we give it proper attention. But with December often filled with final exams, family and friend gatherings, travel, shopping, and other obligations, slowing down may feel neither productive nor possible.
However, I’ve learned a few things about the power of stillness during the Christmas season—and how it can deepen both our Christmas spirit and our relationship with the Savior.
Service During the Holidays
Though Christmastime can be busy, one of the most rewarding aspects of the season for me is the opportunity to serve others. Some of my best holiday seasons have been spent working on various service projects with my ward and family. Even when I’m busy and wanting to relax during my free moments, service allows me to look outside myself and invites the Spirit into my life.
When I’m serving someone, I think of the Savior. When the Savior served others, He looked at them closely, listened, and saw their needs. He would slow down just to serve them individually, like with the woman with the issue of blood or the man at the pool of Bethesda (see Mark 5:24–34; John 5:5–9). Those miracles were powerful, but I see them as quiet, intimate moments between the Savior and God’s children.
Even when Christmas service projects are noisy or bustling and keeping me busy, when I step back and focus on Christ, I feel a sense of reverence and gratitude for Him. Service brings a sense of stillness to my soul and helps me feel closer to Him.
Stillness in the Christmas Season
Here in Austria, singing “Silent Night” is extra special because it was written by two Austrian composers. We don’t sing it until Christmas Eve. In my family, after we read in Luke 2 about the Savior’s birth, we sing it together by the light of the candles on our Christmas tree.
The lyrics help me ponder the Savior and the reason for the season. I feel a sense of holiness and reverence as I think of Him lying in His manger during the most quiet and peaceful night the earth ever experienced. It’s a wonderful way to also experience a silent night as the festivities of the season come to an end.
Even if you don’t have a tradition like this, I encourage you to put away distractions and find a moment of stillness during this season to study the Savior’s life in the scriptures and ponder what His birth means for you.
Embracing the Joy of the Savior
Sister Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, beautifully taught: “On that holy Christmas night, an angel shared the good news, the good tidings of great joy. … I believe the angel was saying, ‘Your friend, your best friend has just arrived. And if you knew how closely He has watched you, how much you looked to Him when you lived with Him before, if you understood what He is going to sacrifice for you and how much He will ever after be willing to do to help you return home, you would rush to greet Him at the manger.’”
Those moments of stillness—through prayer, in the temple, during scripture study, and while I’m serving others—are when I feel most connected to the Savior. I know that we can find Him and feel His peace throughout this season and every season as we serve Him and ponder the joy of His birth.