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Stars
We think of the star of Bethlehem – the star that the wise men followed so patiently and so hopefully and so faithfully – as a phenomenon in the heavens, and so it was. But the star in the heavens was not the only star or the most important star. The wise men had a star within that enabled them to see the star without. Bestselling author Chieko Okazaki sheds new light on the familiar Christmas story in her insightful new book, Stars. In her warm and distinctive style, she shares stories, scriptures, and personal memories of Christmas to testify of her deep feelings about Jesus Christ, the babe of Bethlehem who was born under a shining star. "Christ waits to be born anew in our hearts," she testifies. "His star is in the heavens. Wise men and women seek him still." Let a star guide you this Christmas season.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2004
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83 people want to read
About the author
Chieko N. Okazaki
12 books41 followersChieko N. Okazaki was the first non-Caucasian to serve on a general board of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was a counselor in the general Relief Society presidency from 1990 to 1997. She is the author of several bestselling books and tapes. She and her husband, the late Ed Okazaki, have two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 10, 2021
A friend gave me Sanctuary in a loving attempt to provide support for past trauma and abuse in my life. Although her motives were pure, this book was not only unhelpful but invalidating as well.
The author falls into the trap that religious scholars often do; that is to offer that dedicated faith and prayer alone can cure depression, PTSD and other psychiatric illnesses.
There is great danger in this fallacy, one that, thankfully, religion seems to be slowly awakening to. Unfortunately, much harm has been done in the meantime. I would not recommend this book.
The author falls into the trap that religious scholars often do; that is to offer that dedicated faith and prayer alone can cure depression, PTSD and other psychiatric illnesses.
There is great danger in this fallacy, one that, thankfully, religion seems to be slowly awakening to. Unfortunately, much harm has been done in the meantime. I would not recommend this book.
February 14, 2022
This is a sweet book of insightful, uplifting, and faith-filled stories and thoughts pointing to and teaching about Jesus Christ. I enjoyed all of this book, but particularly loved the quote I found on page 117 about prayer. This quote or something very similar has stayed with me for years. I remember reading or hearing Sister Okazaki teach about prayer and have been searching for the quote ever since. I love the idea and reminder that we can pray for EVERYONE ALL THE TIME WHEREVER WE ARE. How much peace would fill the world if we were constantly praying for everyone we saw? ;) I'd like to do that better. When our hearts are full of love and prayers and a desire to have the Savior with us, we can't help but have a life filled with joy and goodness overflowing to those around us. Here are some other favorite quotes:
"There is no such thing as immaterial matter... the light of Christ fills the immensity of space, making each part of the universe related to every other part... we are eternal (p. 2)."
"They saw... with the eyes of faith, and it brought them to Jesus (p. 4)."
"Focus your thoughts on beautiful and powerful scriptures, poems, or other expressions that can be part of your personal firmament, reminding you that God is in his heaven and giving you comfort for times of loneliness, words to express your joy at times of happiness, glorious words with which to express your faith (p. 8)."
"I put [a star sticker] on my watch. That way I'll remember, every time I look at my watch, that there's time in my day to think about Jesus, to feel his love for me, to express my gratitude for him, and to think about the start within that glows because he is the light of the world (p. 9)."
"'What is man, that thou art mindful of him?... For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels... O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth (Psalm 8:3-9, p. 10)!'"
"'Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name (Amos 5:8, p. 31).'"
"They had to leave the palace before they saw the star again and before they received any guidance from it (p. 12)."
"It is not enough to have knowledge--even correct and complete knowledge. We will not see the star unless we leave the court. We will not be led unless we are willing to move. We will not find the child unless we are willing to journey to a place that may only be a strange and foreign name on our mental map. And we will never know what it feels like to 'rejoice with exceeding great joy' unless we yearn and seek and journey (p. 13)."
"If we are wise, we will not look for the divine child in the courts of a king. We will let the star lead us to the stranger (p. 14)."
"Let the start lead you to a stranger... What might such a gift be that would let you communicate rejoicing and reverence and love? Could a plate of cookies for a neighbor be frankincense? Might an hour of learning a new song with your preschooler be myrrh (p. 15)?"
"Will you let a star lead you... to an unusual place... ? Will you look at the stranger you find in that place and see holiness in his or her face (p. 17)?"
"Christ waits to be born anew in our hearts... His star is in the heavens, and wise men and wise women seek him still (p. 17)."
"Contemplate the star within. Let the light that recognizes your yearning and your desire to serve flood your heart so that it radiates from your very countenance. Recognize that you have star material within you... Let that star be a light for you... Let it show you the faces of the angels who come into your life to warn you to take another way home. And as you take those other paths, know that the light goes with you (p. 18)."
"'Live with ever more attention to the life and example of the Lord Jesus Christ, especially the love and hope and compassion He displayed (Howard W. Hunter, p. 20).'"
"Think about the shepherd's journey to seek the child. Each one of us lives in a world that demands work and has bills that come due. Yet each of us has journeys that take us to spiritual experiences, to experiences of testimony and faith and new understandings... The message came to the shepherds--not because they were waiting for it or because they were seeking it--but simply because they were going about their normal workaday occupations (p. 22)."
"Christmas comes to us in the hustle and bustle of our workaday worlds and, if we are willing to hear the angel, we can be lifted out of our humdrum existence for a few glorious hours that will bring us to the manger of the Christ child. Then when we return to our ordinary worlds, we have the memory of something shining and beautiful (p. 23)."
"I have... tried to be sensitive to other strangers in our midst who may be secretly weeping over the equivalent of mashed potatoes while they are homesick for rice (p. 30)."
"We must travel sometimes with only hope as our companion, because we saw no angels and heard no majestic choirs singing. But hope is enough to lead us to the Savior if we will persevere (p. 30)."
"Pay attention to the quality of our spiritual lives... break down the compartments between parts of our lives (p. 33)."
"It is more important to show love than to show efficiency. Mother Teresa said, 'Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless (p. 36).'"
"The journey of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus by night... in haste toward Egypt [is] a reminder that we live in a world where injustice is real and where the innocent must be protected... I hope that we will commit ourselves to speak the truth and speak in defense of those who need the truth as a protection (p. 38)."
"There may be times... when we feel that we have received marching orders--from our schedules... long to-do lists... our sense of duty... Can we instead seek the spirit of the child in Bethlehem with hands that are swift to serve and feet that make haste to carry us to a place where our love and sympathy are needed (p. 42)?"
"Christmas presence... the awareness that someone else is with us... our Savior (p. 45)."
"Jesus said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5, p. 46).'"
"The best present you can give anyone is your own presence, your willingness to be fully present for a neighbor, a child, a spouse, or the individuals in a class you're teaching. I'm talking about making each encounter a loving encounter to which you bring a gracious and loving presence rather than a very long checklist (p. 50)."
"Remember the presence of the Savior in your life and in your heart and let your consciousness of the Savior and his life linger in the front of your mind, that he may be the light by which you carry out your daily tasks and the salt that seasons every taste (p. 51)."
"If you're doing the best you can, that's good enough. Don't keep lists of how you've failed or of things you've left undone. Pay attention to what you have done. And keep your feelings about the presence of the Christ-spirit within your alive and bright (p. 53)."
"With the presence of the Savior in our lives and in our hearts, we're prepared to give the gift of our own presence to others (p. 53)."
"You can minister to these people while you are carrying out a task of administration... There's an agenda of items, there is information to be processed, and there are decisions to be made, but the people in the room with you are your task (p. 55)."
"'Mankind was my business! The common good was my business (Jacob Marley, p. 56)!'"
"He did not consider that he was wasting time when he was talking to people. On the contrary, he considered that to be his most important task. He gave the gift of his presence always, and through his influence people discovered new power in themselves to deal lovingly and patiently with others (p. 57)."
"Sometimes we get caught up in counting the sheep instead of feeding them. Sometimes we're more worried about empty chairs than we are about empty hearts. Our church callings can provide wonderful opportunities to minister to people if we have our hearts centered on the light that Jesus brings (p. 58)."
"You incidentally have the opportunity of finishing a quilt. But your real job is the women next to you (p. 60)."
"We don't need to judge the righteousness of another individual. We can just concentrate on loving them and being fully with them. We don't need to solve their problem or to fix them so they don't have a problem. We don't need to turn our lives over to them. But for the few moments we are together, we can be fully, lovingly together (p. 61)."
"'I don't know if anyone has said thank you for the wonderful service you performed... but I know that the whole neighborhood appreciated it, and I'm just saying thank you for all of us (p. 62).'"
"When it comes to church callings, can we be a little less task-oriented and a little more people-oriented (p. 63)?"
"We cannot give the gift of loving regard to another human being unless we feel in our own hearts the loving regard of the Savior and sense how he cherishes us. When we have those feelings, it is almost impossible for us to treat others in unloving ways (p. 66)."
"Perhaps you would love to have an hour or two to pray without interruption, but the pace of your life does not allow you that luxury right now... keep a prayer in your heart. I pray continually--while I'm driving, while I'm riding in the elevator, while I'm pushing a shopping cart (p. 67)."
"May we be continually conscious of Christ's presence in our lives. May we remember his life and death, his atonement and his grace, his love and his mercy. May we find joy in his presence, and may our awareness of his presence shine forth from our eyes and illuminate our speech (p. 69)."
"Nephi didn't see stables, or oxen, or donkeys. No shepherds and no lambs. No wise men and camels. Not even singing angels. The only angel was one explaining to Nephi what he was seeing... No shepherds. And the only lamb is Jesus Christ himself, the Lamb of God (p. 74)."
"You might remember a beautiful young woman holding a baby... [or]... a day, a night, and a day in which there was no darkness... 'Lift up your head and be of good cheer, for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world (p. 78).'"
"Then came the... good tidings of great joy:... 'If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me (3 Nephi 9:14, p. 82).'"
"The Christmas story is about faith (p. 84)."
"The Christmas story beings with a baby, but it does not end there. It continues through a ministry of healing and holiness. It continues through sacrifice and suffering. It continues through resurrection and redemption. It will never end until we accept Christ's grace and mercy (p. 86)."
"I want to talk about abiding in the field, and what some of those fields might be... I want to talk about abiding in faith... I want to talk about abiding in the Savior's love (p. 91)."
"Abide is a beautiful word... stay... continue... wait patiently... endure unchanged... Abiding takes tenacity and integrity and a strong awareness of the power of choice (p. 91)."
"The shepherds abiding in the field... They were where they were supposed to be. They were in the field. The angels knew where to find them. At the appointed time, in the appointed place, the shepherds were where they belonged and, as a result, they heard the song of praise and joy that had been prepared from the beginning of the world. The shepherds were doing their job. They were doing their work (p. 92)."
"Abide the peanut butter and the socks and sulks. Do your job. Stay in your field. Don't abandon our sheep, even when it's cold and dark, because that's when the angels come, and the silence is when you hear the angel voices. What is your field? Where are you called to abide? This Christmas, can you abide there, in faith and hope and charity (p. 94)?"
"Let's be where we are supposed to be so that angels can find us. Let's be in our meetings. Let's be about doing service. Let's be where people need us. Let's be in our homes with our families (p. 96)."
"Why would we want to be in his presence forever if we do not want to be in his presence today, this hour?... He is not withholding his presence from us to punish us or tease us or teach us to be patient. He is just waiting for an invitation from a heart prepared to make him room (p. 97)."
"Abide in faith and let that faith strengthen... you (p. 102)."
"I would like to remind you of the words of a hymn, one that is a prayer that expresses the yearning and hope of our heart and yet, at the same time, our faith in the promise of our Savior to always be with us that we may abide in his love. 'Abide with me!'... 'I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing... continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love (John 15:4-10, p. 103).'
"Let us think of the shepherds abiding in the fields... let us also think of the angels who found them there, doing their jobs. Let us think about the holiness of work that is done with a consecrated attitude (p. 108)."
"We all have an absolutely unlimited supply of smiles. Sometimes we save them just for the family. Or worse, sometimes we save them just for the people at work. Well, they are not in short supply! Let's start passing them out, on per every pair of eyes you look into, with a few left over so that we can catch ourselves smiling even when we're alone (p. 113)."
"Let's look at what else you have to give for Christmas. You have time. Even though you may think that time is what you have in shortest supply, you have all the time there is, all the time in the world, the morning and the evening, the day that God has made for us to rejoice and be glad in (p. 116)."
"You also have an unlimited number of prayers to offer during this season. You can pray for the people in the hospital as you drive by. You can pray for the policeman directly traffic after the basketball game. You can pray for the person you see on the news whose face and plight touch you, even if you see her face only in a crowd. You can pray for the clerk in the shoe store, for the Salvation Army bell ringer, for the grandchild in Florida, for the president of the United States, for the person standing in the detergent aisle trying to make up her mind what soap to buy. And this doesn't even begin to touch the hundreds of people you know personally for whom you can pray. Think of the power of prayer. It's as if you lift someone with loving hands and hold him or her up in remembrance before God. That person is in your memory, in your heart, in your thoughts. And now you have brought his or her name before God in joyous, sympathetic remembrance. What a wonderful gift of plentitude! Now, perhaps you're thinking, 'But some of these people are strangers. I don't even know them. I don't know if they need my prayers. I don't know if my prayers will do them any good.' That's not the point. You're not praying for them because they need it. You're praying for them because you have a prayer to give. The prayer does not exist because of their poverty; it exists because of your richness (p. 117)."
"God did not send a neatly typed heavenly memo to the religious and theological leaders of the day, but a multitude of angels filled the sky and the night with their song of glory and rejoicing (p. 118)."
"What do you have to give? The keys to God's storehouse are in your hands... Think about your abundance (p. 119)!"
"Joseph and the angel were alone, but surely a third person was also present. Surely Jesus Christ was there, filled with love and gratitude for this simple carpenter who would protect his mother; become, to all intents and purposes in the eyes of the people, Jesus' own father; and whose children by Mary would become the brothers and sisters in Jesus' immediate family (p. 124)."
"'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (Matthew 18:20, p. 126)."
"'I had been part of a miracle that I have seen many times since--the transformation that comes over people when you think of them as children of God, when you offer them love in the name of a Baby born two thousand years ago in a stable in Bethlehem, a Person who lives and walks with us and makes His presence known (Norman Vincent Peale, p. 128).'"
"Invite the Savior... he will be eager and overjoyed to attend (p. 131)."
"I believe that the Savior is in our midst, in any gathering characterized by love and kindness and service (p. 138)."
"There is no such thing as immaterial matter... the light of Christ fills the immensity of space, making each part of the universe related to every other part... we are eternal (p. 2)."
"They saw... with the eyes of faith, and it brought them to Jesus (p. 4)."
"Focus your thoughts on beautiful and powerful scriptures, poems, or other expressions that can be part of your personal firmament, reminding you that God is in his heaven and giving you comfort for times of loneliness, words to express your joy at times of happiness, glorious words with which to express your faith (p. 8)."
"I put [a star sticker] on my watch. That way I'll remember, every time I look at my watch, that there's time in my day to think about Jesus, to feel his love for me, to express my gratitude for him, and to think about the start within that glows because he is the light of the world (p. 9)."
"'What is man, that thou art mindful of him?... For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels... O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth (Psalm 8:3-9, p. 10)!'"
"'Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name (Amos 5:8, p. 31).'"
"They had to leave the palace before they saw the star again and before they received any guidance from it (p. 12)."
"It is not enough to have knowledge--even correct and complete knowledge. We will not see the star unless we leave the court. We will not be led unless we are willing to move. We will not find the child unless we are willing to journey to a place that may only be a strange and foreign name on our mental map. And we will never know what it feels like to 'rejoice with exceeding great joy' unless we yearn and seek and journey (p. 13)."
"If we are wise, we will not look for the divine child in the courts of a king. We will let the star lead us to the stranger (p. 14)."
"Let the start lead you to a stranger... What might such a gift be that would let you communicate rejoicing and reverence and love? Could a plate of cookies for a neighbor be frankincense? Might an hour of learning a new song with your preschooler be myrrh (p. 15)?"
"Will you let a star lead you... to an unusual place... ? Will you look at the stranger you find in that place and see holiness in his or her face (p. 17)?"
"Christ waits to be born anew in our hearts... His star is in the heavens, and wise men and wise women seek him still (p. 17)."
"Contemplate the star within. Let the light that recognizes your yearning and your desire to serve flood your heart so that it radiates from your very countenance. Recognize that you have star material within you... Let that star be a light for you... Let it show you the faces of the angels who come into your life to warn you to take another way home. And as you take those other paths, know that the light goes with you (p. 18)."
"'Live with ever more attention to the life and example of the Lord Jesus Christ, especially the love and hope and compassion He displayed (Howard W. Hunter, p. 20).'"
"Think about the shepherd's journey to seek the child. Each one of us lives in a world that demands work and has bills that come due. Yet each of us has journeys that take us to spiritual experiences, to experiences of testimony and faith and new understandings... The message came to the shepherds--not because they were waiting for it or because they were seeking it--but simply because they were going about their normal workaday occupations (p. 22)."
"Christmas comes to us in the hustle and bustle of our workaday worlds and, if we are willing to hear the angel, we can be lifted out of our humdrum existence for a few glorious hours that will bring us to the manger of the Christ child. Then when we return to our ordinary worlds, we have the memory of something shining and beautiful (p. 23)."
"I have... tried to be sensitive to other strangers in our midst who may be secretly weeping over the equivalent of mashed potatoes while they are homesick for rice (p. 30)."
"We must travel sometimes with only hope as our companion, because we saw no angels and heard no majestic choirs singing. But hope is enough to lead us to the Savior if we will persevere (p. 30)."
"Pay attention to the quality of our spiritual lives... break down the compartments between parts of our lives (p. 33)."
"It is more important to show love than to show efficiency. Mother Teresa said, 'Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless (p. 36).'"
"The journey of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus by night... in haste toward Egypt [is] a reminder that we live in a world where injustice is real and where the innocent must be protected... I hope that we will commit ourselves to speak the truth and speak in defense of those who need the truth as a protection (p. 38)."
"There may be times... when we feel that we have received marching orders--from our schedules... long to-do lists... our sense of duty... Can we instead seek the spirit of the child in Bethlehem with hands that are swift to serve and feet that make haste to carry us to a place where our love and sympathy are needed (p. 42)?"
"Christmas presence... the awareness that someone else is with us... our Savior (p. 45)."
"Jesus said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5, p. 46).'"
"The best present you can give anyone is your own presence, your willingness to be fully present for a neighbor, a child, a spouse, or the individuals in a class you're teaching. I'm talking about making each encounter a loving encounter to which you bring a gracious and loving presence rather than a very long checklist (p. 50)."
"Remember the presence of the Savior in your life and in your heart and let your consciousness of the Savior and his life linger in the front of your mind, that he may be the light by which you carry out your daily tasks and the salt that seasons every taste (p. 51)."
"If you're doing the best you can, that's good enough. Don't keep lists of how you've failed or of things you've left undone. Pay attention to what you have done. And keep your feelings about the presence of the Christ-spirit within your alive and bright (p. 53)."
"With the presence of the Savior in our lives and in our hearts, we're prepared to give the gift of our own presence to others (p. 53)."
"You can minister to these people while you are carrying out a task of administration... There's an agenda of items, there is information to be processed, and there are decisions to be made, but the people in the room with you are your task (p. 55)."
"'Mankind was my business! The common good was my business (Jacob Marley, p. 56)!'"
"He did not consider that he was wasting time when he was talking to people. On the contrary, he considered that to be his most important task. He gave the gift of his presence always, and through his influence people discovered new power in themselves to deal lovingly and patiently with others (p. 57)."
"Sometimes we get caught up in counting the sheep instead of feeding them. Sometimes we're more worried about empty chairs than we are about empty hearts. Our church callings can provide wonderful opportunities to minister to people if we have our hearts centered on the light that Jesus brings (p. 58)."
"You incidentally have the opportunity of finishing a quilt. But your real job is the women next to you (p. 60)."
"We don't need to judge the righteousness of another individual. We can just concentrate on loving them and being fully with them. We don't need to solve their problem or to fix them so they don't have a problem. We don't need to turn our lives over to them. But for the few moments we are together, we can be fully, lovingly together (p. 61)."
"'I don't know if anyone has said thank you for the wonderful service you performed... but I know that the whole neighborhood appreciated it, and I'm just saying thank you for all of us (p. 62).'"
"When it comes to church callings, can we be a little less task-oriented and a little more people-oriented (p. 63)?"
"We cannot give the gift of loving regard to another human being unless we feel in our own hearts the loving regard of the Savior and sense how he cherishes us. When we have those feelings, it is almost impossible for us to treat others in unloving ways (p. 66)."
"Perhaps you would love to have an hour or two to pray without interruption, but the pace of your life does not allow you that luxury right now... keep a prayer in your heart. I pray continually--while I'm driving, while I'm riding in the elevator, while I'm pushing a shopping cart (p. 67)."
"May we be continually conscious of Christ's presence in our lives. May we remember his life and death, his atonement and his grace, his love and his mercy. May we find joy in his presence, and may our awareness of his presence shine forth from our eyes and illuminate our speech (p. 69)."
"Nephi didn't see stables, or oxen, or donkeys. No shepherds and no lambs. No wise men and camels. Not even singing angels. The only angel was one explaining to Nephi what he was seeing... No shepherds. And the only lamb is Jesus Christ himself, the Lamb of God (p. 74)."
"You might remember a beautiful young woman holding a baby... [or]... a day, a night, and a day in which there was no darkness... 'Lift up your head and be of good cheer, for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world (p. 78).'"
"Then came the... good tidings of great joy:... 'If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me (3 Nephi 9:14, p. 82).'"
"The Christmas story is about faith (p. 84)."
"The Christmas story beings with a baby, but it does not end there. It continues through a ministry of healing and holiness. It continues through sacrifice and suffering. It continues through resurrection and redemption. It will never end until we accept Christ's grace and mercy (p. 86)."
"I want to talk about abiding in the field, and what some of those fields might be... I want to talk about abiding in faith... I want to talk about abiding in the Savior's love (p. 91)."
"Abide is a beautiful word... stay... continue... wait patiently... endure unchanged... Abiding takes tenacity and integrity and a strong awareness of the power of choice (p. 91)."
"The shepherds abiding in the field... They were where they were supposed to be. They were in the field. The angels knew where to find them. At the appointed time, in the appointed place, the shepherds were where they belonged and, as a result, they heard the song of praise and joy that had been prepared from the beginning of the world. The shepherds were doing their job. They were doing their work (p. 92)."
"Abide the peanut butter and the socks and sulks. Do your job. Stay in your field. Don't abandon our sheep, even when it's cold and dark, because that's when the angels come, and the silence is when you hear the angel voices. What is your field? Where are you called to abide? This Christmas, can you abide there, in faith and hope and charity (p. 94)?"
"Let's be where we are supposed to be so that angels can find us. Let's be in our meetings. Let's be about doing service. Let's be where people need us. Let's be in our homes with our families (p. 96)."
"Why would we want to be in his presence forever if we do not want to be in his presence today, this hour?... He is not withholding his presence from us to punish us or tease us or teach us to be patient. He is just waiting for an invitation from a heart prepared to make him room (p. 97)."
"Abide in faith and let that faith strengthen... you (p. 102)."
"I would like to remind you of the words of a hymn, one that is a prayer that expresses the yearning and hope of our heart and yet, at the same time, our faith in the promise of our Savior to always be with us that we may abide in his love. 'Abide with me!'... 'I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing... continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love (John 15:4-10, p. 103).'
"Let us think of the shepherds abiding in the fields... let us also think of the angels who found them there, doing their jobs. Let us think about the holiness of work that is done with a consecrated attitude (p. 108)."
"We all have an absolutely unlimited supply of smiles. Sometimes we save them just for the family. Or worse, sometimes we save them just for the people at work. Well, they are not in short supply! Let's start passing them out, on per every pair of eyes you look into, with a few left over so that we can catch ourselves smiling even when we're alone (p. 113)."
"Let's look at what else you have to give for Christmas. You have time. Even though you may think that time is what you have in shortest supply, you have all the time there is, all the time in the world, the morning and the evening, the day that God has made for us to rejoice and be glad in (p. 116)."
"You also have an unlimited number of prayers to offer during this season. You can pray for the people in the hospital as you drive by. You can pray for the policeman directly traffic after the basketball game. You can pray for the person you see on the news whose face and plight touch you, even if you see her face only in a crowd. You can pray for the clerk in the shoe store, for the Salvation Army bell ringer, for the grandchild in Florida, for the president of the United States, for the person standing in the detergent aisle trying to make up her mind what soap to buy. And this doesn't even begin to touch the hundreds of people you know personally for whom you can pray. Think of the power of prayer. It's as if you lift someone with loving hands and hold him or her up in remembrance before God. That person is in your memory, in your heart, in your thoughts. And now you have brought his or her name before God in joyous, sympathetic remembrance. What a wonderful gift of plentitude! Now, perhaps you're thinking, 'But some of these people are strangers. I don't even know them. I don't know if they need my prayers. I don't know if my prayers will do them any good.' That's not the point. You're not praying for them because they need it. You're praying for them because you have a prayer to give. The prayer does not exist because of their poverty; it exists because of your richness (p. 117)."
"God did not send a neatly typed heavenly memo to the religious and theological leaders of the day, but a multitude of angels filled the sky and the night with their song of glory and rejoicing (p. 118)."
"What do you have to give? The keys to God's storehouse are in your hands... Think about your abundance (p. 119)!"
"Joseph and the angel were alone, but surely a third person was also present. Surely Jesus Christ was there, filled with love and gratitude for this simple carpenter who would protect his mother; become, to all intents and purposes in the eyes of the people, Jesus' own father; and whose children by Mary would become the brothers and sisters in Jesus' immediate family (p. 124)."
"'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (Matthew 18:20, p. 126)."
"'I had been part of a miracle that I have seen many times since--the transformation that comes over people when you think of them as children of God, when you offer them love in the name of a Baby born two thousand years ago in a stable in Bethlehem, a Person who lives and walks with us and makes His presence known (Norman Vincent Peale, p. 128).'"
"Invite the Savior... he will be eager and overjoyed to attend (p. 131)."
"I believe that the Savior is in our midst, in any gathering characterized by love and kindness and service (p. 138)."
September 8, 2011
I loved this book. It was a quick read and I plan to read it every year around Thanksgiving to put perspective into the Christmas season and the things we should be focusing on at that time and throughout the year.
January 8, 2012
I think I will read this book every Christmas. It is beautiful.
December 11, 2019
Really appreciated some beautiful thoughts about Christmas and living a Christian life.
December 20, 2012
Sr. Okazaki shares some sweet and poignant thoughts on Christmas in this short, seven chapter book.
She draws out some important lessons from obscure parts of the Christmas story. For example, one that really resonates with me is in relation to the wise men who had followed the star from the East until they arrived at Herod's court. There they inquired of the king's scholars where the child was born - the scholars knew their scriptures and gave the answer of Bethlehem - and the wise men set off for that town. Sr. Okazaki point out: "It is not enough for us to know what the scriptures say. It is not enough for us to have knowledge--even correct and complete knowledge. We will not see the star unless we leave the court. We will not be led unless we are willing to move. We will not find the child unless we are willing to journey to a place that may only be a strange and foreign name on our mental map. And we will never know what it feels like to 'rejoice with exceeding great joy' unless we yearn and seek and journey."
And comparing several different journeys that took place as part of the Christmas story, she says "There are times and situations and circumstances in our lives when a shepherd's response of a few hours or an interrupted night's sleep is not enough. To set our lives in order or to gain the kind of living faith in the Savior that we must have, we may need to make the journey of the wise men, leaving our psychological homes and familiar surroundings, testing the flattering words of the Herods who surround us, being willing to travel far with only the glimmer of a star to guide us. We must travel sometimes with only hope as our companion, because we saw no angels and hear no majestic choirs singing. But hope is enough to lead us to the Savior if we will persevere."
She also extends some cautions for this busy time of year. "We can secularize Christmas even while we think we are celebrating it...If you feel that Christmas has you marching in lockstep toward a destination you don't like very much, step out of line. It is more important to be kind than to be on time. It is more important to show love than to show efficiency." Continuing with this theme through another chapter, she explains that "the best present you can give anyone is your own presence, your willingness to be fully present for a neighbor, a child, a spouse, or the individuals in a class you're teaching. I'm talking about making each encounter a loving encounter to which you bring a gracious and loving presence rather than a very long checklist." And again, talking about encounters with other people, she says "remember that each one of those gatherings, no matter whether it lasts three seconds or a whole evening, is a gathering into which you can invite the Savior and which he will be eager and overjoyed to attend." I find it interesting to trace the influence her Buddhist upbringing has on how she expresses her Christian values and I think this counsel to be mindful and present for others is one of the most obvious carryovers.
Here's another section that rang true to me, particularly with recent events in the Bloggernacle (the online Mormon world): "Sometimes we get confused about what's gospel and what's tradition. Sometimes we're not sure if what we're experiencing is the spirit of Christ or a traditional part of Mormon culture that seems right because it's familiar, much loved, and part of our family life. We need to keep all of the parts of culture and tradition that are meaningful and that work for us, but let's not confuse them with the core of the gospel. Let's not mistake them for the spirit of our Savior."
In a chapter considering the Christmas story from the point of view of the Nephites in the Americas, Sr. Okazaki highlights how different their experience and understand of Christmas would have been from that of those in Palestine and what we traditionally think of. For them, Christ's birth was intricately associated with his death because of the vision of Nephi and the prophecies Samuel the Lamanite. This "close connection between the bright and the dark--between glory and suffering" changes the tenor of the story a bit. It reminds us that "there are beautiful and glorious places in our lives, and there are dark and destructive places in our lives, just as there are in the Christmas story. The way of Jesus is to go into both places, to make the glorious places even more radiant, to bring wholeness to the broken places, and to transform the dark places into light. But he can only go on the way that we offer willingly to him. He can only pass through the gates that we open to him. He can only make whole the broken fragments that we put into his hands. He is the newness of the baby in the manger and the eternality of Christ the Redeemer who created the heavens and the earth."
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
She draws out some important lessons from obscure parts of the Christmas story. For example, one that really resonates with me is in relation to the wise men who had followed the star from the East until they arrived at Herod's court. There they inquired of the king's scholars where the child was born - the scholars knew their scriptures and gave the answer of Bethlehem - and the wise men set off for that town. Sr. Okazaki point out: "It is not enough for us to know what the scriptures say. It is not enough for us to have knowledge--even correct and complete knowledge. We will not see the star unless we leave the court. We will not be led unless we are willing to move. We will not find the child unless we are willing to journey to a place that may only be a strange and foreign name on our mental map. And we will never know what it feels like to 'rejoice with exceeding great joy' unless we yearn and seek and journey."
And comparing several different journeys that took place as part of the Christmas story, she says "There are times and situations and circumstances in our lives when a shepherd's response of a few hours or an interrupted night's sleep is not enough. To set our lives in order or to gain the kind of living faith in the Savior that we must have, we may need to make the journey of the wise men, leaving our psychological homes and familiar surroundings, testing the flattering words of the Herods who surround us, being willing to travel far with only the glimmer of a star to guide us. We must travel sometimes with only hope as our companion, because we saw no angels and hear no majestic choirs singing. But hope is enough to lead us to the Savior if we will persevere."
She also extends some cautions for this busy time of year. "We can secularize Christmas even while we think we are celebrating it...If you feel that Christmas has you marching in lockstep toward a destination you don't like very much, step out of line. It is more important to be kind than to be on time. It is more important to show love than to show efficiency." Continuing with this theme through another chapter, she explains that "the best present you can give anyone is your own presence, your willingness to be fully present for a neighbor, a child, a spouse, or the individuals in a class you're teaching. I'm talking about making each encounter a loving encounter to which you bring a gracious and loving presence rather than a very long checklist." And again, talking about encounters with other people, she says "remember that each one of those gatherings, no matter whether it lasts three seconds or a whole evening, is a gathering into which you can invite the Savior and which he will be eager and overjoyed to attend." I find it interesting to trace the influence her Buddhist upbringing has on how she expresses her Christian values and I think this counsel to be mindful and present for others is one of the most obvious carryovers.
Here's another section that rang true to me, particularly with recent events in the Bloggernacle (the online Mormon world): "Sometimes we get confused about what's gospel and what's tradition. Sometimes we're not sure if what we're experiencing is the spirit of Christ or a traditional part of Mormon culture that seems right because it's familiar, much loved, and part of our family life. We need to keep all of the parts of culture and tradition that are meaningful and that work for us, but let's not confuse them with the core of the gospel. Let's not mistake them for the spirit of our Savior."
In a chapter considering the Christmas story from the point of view of the Nephites in the Americas, Sr. Okazaki highlights how different their experience and understand of Christmas would have been from that of those in Palestine and what we traditionally think of. For them, Christ's birth was intricately associated with his death because of the vision of Nephi and the prophecies Samuel the Lamanite. This "close connection between the bright and the dark--between glory and suffering" changes the tenor of the story a bit. It reminds us that "there are beautiful and glorious places in our lives, and there are dark and destructive places in our lives, just as there are in the Christmas story. The way of Jesus is to go into both places, to make the glorious places even more radiant, to bring wholeness to the broken places, and to transform the dark places into light. But he can only go on the way that we offer willingly to him. He can only pass through the gates that we open to him. He can only make whole the broken fragments that we put into his hands. He is the newness of the baby in the manger and the eternality of Christ the Redeemer who created the heavens and the earth."
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
November 9, 2010
LDS author Chieko Okazaki inspries and enlightens in this treasure of a book about the birth of Christ and the season that celebrates it. My favorite parts shed light on the star that each of the Wise Men carried within them, and how each of us can likewise seek that Child born in Bethlehem and carry His star in our hearts...
January 17, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book during the holiday season. There is little written about the birth of Christ, but the story we do know has so much to learn from. I enjoyed the chapter focusing on the Nephite Christmas story.
January 15, 2011
I always am inspired by Chieko Okazaki, and was not disappointed with this book. A good Christmas read or anytime for that matter.
November 24, 2011
my second time reading this book, I love it.
December 28, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book of insights about Christmas written by Chieko Okazaki. The first chapter on the Christmas star helped me think a lot about where the star leads me - to serve someone, to change for the better, or to recognize divinity in others. I also loved the chapter about the word “abide.”:
“It has always had two meanings: one is to stay, to continue, to wait patiently; and the second is to endure unchanged.”
Other quotes I appreciated:
“We must have faith in good and goodness even in the presence of evil. We must have faith in light, even in the presence of darkness.”
“You are the heir of eternity. All that the Father hath is yours. Can his storehouse ever be empty? There is no scarcity or rationing or restriction. When he pours out blessings, he opens the windows of heaven, and we cannot contain what he showers upon us. We are infinitely precious to him, infinitely loved, infinitely cherished.”
“It has always had two meanings: one is to stay, to continue, to wait patiently; and the second is to endure unchanged.”
Other quotes I appreciated:
“We must have faith in good and goodness even in the presence of evil. We must have faith in light, even in the presence of darkness.”
“You are the heir of eternity. All that the Father hath is yours. Can his storehouse ever be empty? There is no scarcity or rationing or restriction. When he pours out blessings, he opens the windows of heaven, and we cannot contain what he showers upon us. We are infinitely precious to him, infinitely loved, infinitely cherished.”
December 31, 2019
Perfect read to help me remember the true meaning of Christmas and feel the Christmas spirit. Sister Okazaki had and continues to have a great ability to get one to think deeper. I loved reading the first part to find my sis-in-laws dear mother and family’s Christmas story in China! It was Christmas bonus and sweet surprise. Will read again.
December 28, 2021
I read this for a Christmas devotional book this year and was not disappointed. Okazaki always gives me a new perspectives to consider, and I love the joyful and inclusive ideas she always brings to the table. Her chapter on abiding was my favorite.
March 3, 2020
This was harder to read than I thought. Maybe I'm just in a funk right now. The chapter on the work Abide was amazing. The rest was just ok.
January 18, 2021
Always writes about topics with a new angle, new depth, penetrating thoughts. I love her work. And great stories as examples.
December 24, 2025
Very enjoyable!
December 25, 2025
Favorite quotes:
(Quoting businessman Max De Pree) "Covenantal relationships enable corporations and institutions to be hospitable to the unusual person and to unusual ideas. Covenantal relationships enable participation to be practiced and inclusive groups to be formed... Covenantal relationships... induce freedom, not paralysis. A covenantal relationship rests on shared commitment to ideas, to issues, to values, to goals, and to management processes... [to] love, warmth, [and] person chemistry... Covenantal relationships are open to influence. They fill deep needs, and they enable work to have meaning and to be fulfilling. Covenantal relationships reflect unity and grace and poise. They are an expression of the sacred nature of relationships.
"Max De Pree is talking about creating a covenantal relationship in the workplace. How much more, then, should we, the people of covenant, create covenantal relationships in our associations at church? Where should we better cherish diversity, really listen to people, and give fully the gift of our presence than at church?" pp 60
"We cannot fully give the gift of our presence if we're worried about the worthiness of the recipient, so let's seize with gratitude the scriptural commandment not to judge. There are those in the Church whose assignment and calling it is to judge, but if that is not your assigned duty or responsibility, then follow the Savior's adminoition to 'judge not, that ye be not judged.' By so commanding us, he has lifted a great burden from us. We don't need to judge the need of someone who holds a sign that reads 'Hungry and Homeless.' We don't need to judge the motives of someone at church who gossips about a friend. We don't need to judge the righteousness of another individual. We can just concentrate on loving them and being fully with them. We don't need to solve their problem or to fix them so they don't have a problem. We don't need to turn our lives over to them. But for the few moments we are together, we can be fully, lovingly together.' p 61
From Luke 2: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field...
"I want to draw my message from just two words: 'shepherds abiding.' There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. I want to explore with you... aspects of what it means for us Mormon... women to be shepherds abiding, particularly at Christmastime... I want to talk about abiding in the field, and what some of those fields might be... I want to talk about abiding in faith... I want to talk about abiding in the Savior's love.
"I think that abide is a beautiful word... It has always had two meanings: one is to stay, to continue, to wait patiently; and the second meaning is to endure unchanged. Abide is a womans' word; it is a home word. So much of what we have to do is to endure, to be consistent, to rest unchanging, to wait, to stay, to dwell, to remain.
"Abiding is not a flashy or a glamorous quality; it does not make a lot of noise or cause a lot of upheaval. But at the same time, it is not a passive quality. Abiding takes tenacity and integrity and a strong, awareness of the power of choice. It's the verb that the Apostle Paul chose when he talked about the most important qualities we could have as believers: 'And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.' Think of the triumph that it represents to say, 'And now abideth faith. And now abideth hope. And now abideth charity.' After the turmoil and shouting and temptations and trials and turbulence, what a victory to say, 'And now abideth Deborah. And now abideth Lois. And now abideth Maria.'" pp 89-91
"I don't know what burdens you're carrying at this season of the year. Perhaps some of them can be lifted and perhaps some of them can only be lightened, and for still others you will have to pray for strength as you abide them in patience and endurance." p 102
"Think of the power of... prayer. It's as if you lift someone with loving hands and hold him or her up in remembrance before God. That person is in your memory, in your heart, in your thoughts. And now you have brought his or her name before God in joyous, sympathetic remembrance." p 117
"...maybe for you... there will be moments of solitude, perhaps even of loneliness. They needn't be lonely. I think that even the act of writing a Christmas card and thinking with love of the person you will be sending it to as you stick on the stamp is a little gathering of two into which you can invite the Savior, and surely, surely he will be there in your midst." p 131
(Quoting businessman Max De Pree) "Covenantal relationships enable corporations and institutions to be hospitable to the unusual person and to unusual ideas. Covenantal relationships enable participation to be practiced and inclusive groups to be formed... Covenantal relationships... induce freedom, not paralysis. A covenantal relationship rests on shared commitment to ideas, to issues, to values, to goals, and to management processes... [to] love, warmth, [and] person chemistry... Covenantal relationships are open to influence. They fill deep needs, and they enable work to have meaning and to be fulfilling. Covenantal relationships reflect unity and grace and poise. They are an expression of the sacred nature of relationships.
"Max De Pree is talking about creating a covenantal relationship in the workplace. How much more, then, should we, the people of covenant, create covenantal relationships in our associations at church? Where should we better cherish diversity, really listen to people, and give fully the gift of our presence than at church?" pp 60
"We cannot fully give the gift of our presence if we're worried about the worthiness of the recipient, so let's seize with gratitude the scriptural commandment not to judge. There are those in the Church whose assignment and calling it is to judge, but if that is not your assigned duty or responsibility, then follow the Savior's adminoition to 'judge not, that ye be not judged.' By so commanding us, he has lifted a great burden from us. We don't need to judge the need of someone who holds a sign that reads 'Hungry and Homeless.' We don't need to judge the motives of someone at church who gossips about a friend. We don't need to judge the righteousness of another individual. We can just concentrate on loving them and being fully with them. We don't need to solve their problem or to fix them so they don't have a problem. We don't need to turn our lives over to them. But for the few moments we are together, we can be fully, lovingly together.' p 61
From Luke 2: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field...
"I want to draw my message from just two words: 'shepherds abiding.' There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. I want to explore with you... aspects of what it means for us Mormon... women to be shepherds abiding, particularly at Christmastime... I want to talk about abiding in the field, and what some of those fields might be... I want to talk about abiding in faith... I want to talk about abiding in the Savior's love.
"I think that abide is a beautiful word... It has always had two meanings: one is to stay, to continue, to wait patiently; and the second meaning is to endure unchanged. Abide is a womans' word; it is a home word. So much of what we have to do is to endure, to be consistent, to rest unchanging, to wait, to stay, to dwell, to remain.
"Abiding is not a flashy or a glamorous quality; it does not make a lot of noise or cause a lot of upheaval. But at the same time, it is not a passive quality. Abiding takes tenacity and integrity and a strong, awareness of the power of choice. It's the verb that the Apostle Paul chose when he talked about the most important qualities we could have as believers: 'And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.' Think of the triumph that it represents to say, 'And now abideth faith. And now abideth hope. And now abideth charity.' After the turmoil and shouting and temptations and trials and turbulence, what a victory to say, 'And now abideth Deborah. And now abideth Lois. And now abideth Maria.'" pp 89-91
"I don't know what burdens you're carrying at this season of the year. Perhaps some of them can be lifted and perhaps some of them can only be lightened, and for still others you will have to pray for strength as you abide them in patience and endurance." p 102
"Think of the power of... prayer. It's as if you lift someone with loving hands and hold him or her up in remembrance before God. That person is in your memory, in your heart, in your thoughts. And now you have brought his or her name before God in joyous, sympathetic remembrance." p 117
"...maybe for you... there will be moments of solitude, perhaps even of loneliness. They needn't be lonely. I think that even the act of writing a Christmas card and thinking with love of the person you will be sending it to as you stick on the stamp is a little gathering of two into which you can invite the Savior, and surely, surely he will be there in your midst." p 131
December 28, 2010
from the book,
"There are challenges that come at Christmastime--many pressures that crowd into already busy schedules, complications caused by the weather, by colds and flu that come with the season, by the fatigue and overload of too many delightful programs and parties to go to, by money worries about presents to buy from a tight budget. These pressures can also make us feel like soldiers under orders, marching to a destination we didn't chose with a task we do not relish. That's not a very happy feeling to associate with Christmas.
Stars: Reflections on Christmas has affected me profoundly. The book was written with a great spirit contained within it's pages. Sister Okazaki brings her knowledge, testimony and experiences with many cultures together and succinctly explains why our Christmas celebrations are important. I thought about this book often through the holiday season and it had a great affect on my thoughts and actions. I enjoyed my Christmas much more because of the things I learned reading this book. Her chapter on "abiding" was the most touching.
"The word Abide has two meanings: one is to stay, to continue, to wait patiently; and the second is to endure unchanged. Abide is a woman's word; it is a home word. So much of what we have to do is to endure, to be consistent, to rest unchanging, to wait, to stay, to dwell to remain. Abiding is not a flashy or a glamorous quality; it does not make a lot of noise or cause a lot of upheaval. But at the same time, it is not a passive quality. Abiding takes tenacity and integrity and a strong awareness of the power of choices. It is a verb."
Sister Okazaki talks of the shepherds that were "abiding" in the fields. "They were where they were supposed to be. They were in the field. The angels knew where to find them." She challenges each of us to abide, to be where the angels can find us. I found this thought to be very comforting.
Reading this book with an open heart will teach the reader many things as well as inviting a loving spirit into your heart and home. This book by far was my favorite read of the year.
"There are challenges that come at Christmastime--many pressures that crowd into already busy schedules, complications caused by the weather, by colds and flu that come with the season, by the fatigue and overload of too many delightful programs and parties to go to, by money worries about presents to buy from a tight budget. These pressures can also make us feel like soldiers under orders, marching to a destination we didn't chose with a task we do not relish. That's not a very happy feeling to associate with Christmas.
Stars: Reflections on Christmas has affected me profoundly. The book was written with a great spirit contained within it's pages. Sister Okazaki brings her knowledge, testimony and experiences with many cultures together and succinctly explains why our Christmas celebrations are important. I thought about this book often through the holiday season and it had a great affect on my thoughts and actions. I enjoyed my Christmas much more because of the things I learned reading this book. Her chapter on "abiding" was the most touching.
"The word Abide has two meanings: one is to stay, to continue, to wait patiently; and the second is to endure unchanged. Abide is a woman's word; it is a home word. So much of what we have to do is to endure, to be consistent, to rest unchanging, to wait, to stay, to dwell to remain. Abiding is not a flashy or a glamorous quality; it does not make a lot of noise or cause a lot of upheaval. But at the same time, it is not a passive quality. Abiding takes tenacity and integrity and a strong awareness of the power of choices. It is a verb."
Sister Okazaki talks of the shepherds that were "abiding" in the fields. "They were where they were supposed to be. They were in the field. The angels knew where to find them." She challenges each of us to abide, to be where the angels can find us. I found this thought to be very comforting.
Reading this book with an open heart will teach the reader many things as well as inviting a loving spirit into your heart and home. This book by far was my favorite read of the year.
January 28, 2022
I was looking for some quotes about Christmas from female church leaders to share with the young women in our church congregation--they are not plentiful on the interwebs. I found that one of my heroes had written a whole book about Christmas and I was thrilled to find a copy. Chieko speaks to my heart... this book was full of quotes and thoughts that have kept me happy to spend a little more time in the Christmas spirit as I slowly finished it. Two favorites passages are these:
"The blessed Christmas season turns our hearts in wonder and joy to the steadfast love of the Savior for each one of us. We are also reminded of the love of our Heavenly Parents, who seek our eternal progression and who hold back nothing from the goal of increasing our opportunities to grow spiritually--no, nothing was withheld, not even the life of their cherished and beloved son, Jesus Christ." (page 1)
"The Christmas story begins with a baby, but it does not end there. It continues through a ministry of healing and holiness. It continues through sacrifice and suffering. It continues through resurrection and redemption. It will never end until we accept Christ's grace and mercy. Our Christmas story will never end until we lay hold on the loving invitation of the Savior, 'If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me' (3 Nephi 9:14). " (page 86)
"The blessed Christmas season turns our hearts in wonder and joy to the steadfast love of the Savior for each one of us. We are also reminded of the love of our Heavenly Parents, who seek our eternal progression and who hold back nothing from the goal of increasing our opportunities to grow spiritually--no, nothing was withheld, not even the life of their cherished and beloved son, Jesus Christ." (page 1)
"The Christmas story begins with a baby, but it does not end there. It continues through a ministry of healing and holiness. It continues through sacrifice and suffering. It continues through resurrection and redemption. It will never end until we accept Christ's grace and mercy. Our Christmas story will never end until we lay hold on the loving invitation of the Savior, 'If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me' (3 Nephi 9:14). " (page 86)
January 5, 2010
Was a little slow at first and maybe borderline boring, but then it got progressively better each chapter for me. I really liked the chapter on "Christmas presence" and being present with people during the Christmas time of year (and all the time really), and not getting caught up in the busyness of the season. I just liked her take on it.
December 17, 2015
A nice Christmas themed read. I like reading her books even though they are very "Deseret Book"-y and sometimes slower or not always as profound as I hope they will be. I love her because she is cute and quirky, down to earth and speaks her mind.
December 25, 2016
I am so glad that Sister Okazaki chose to write a book about Christmas. Reading this book this week has been the highlight of my Christmas because it centered my thoughts and focus on Christ during Christmas. I loved her stories and thoughts on this time of year. Wonderful book!
March 11, 2019
This was a good uplifting book which had the authors thoughts on Christmas.
March 3, 2008
I just love Chieko Okazaki.
November 15, 2011
A very sweet Christmas book. I could almost hear her voice as I was reading it.
April 24, 2012
A beautiful book with good stories by a lady I admire greatly. A wonderful addition to my Christmas season.
September 5, 2012
A good little read. Some chapters were definitely better than others.
September 2, 2016
Picked this up because I needed some midyear Christmas cheer. Definitely got what I needed. And definitely my favorite by Okazaki.
July 7, 2020
Nice holiday read. Someone referred me to this book when I was looking for material for a Christmas talk, and it didn't disappoint.
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