On the 1st Day of Christmas Past:
Question: As we start this Christmas season, contemplate while reading today’s story “What is on my ‘More Christ’ Christmas list?”
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Christmas Giving
By Elder Gene R. Cook
The word Christmas might be divided into two words. Those who understand Spanish as well as English know that with a mixture of Spanish and English, Christmas could mean “more Christ.” To me, the perfect Christmas would be more of Christ and less of many of the other things we tend to associate with the season.
Most of us spend a lot of time in the weeks before Christmas moving through many stores, looking for presents. What do we see? A lot of things that seem to make people happy, especially children. The list of options is endless, and the happiness from them is short lived. We can easily get lost in all this and lose the real meaning of Christmas, pressured to buy something tangible for someone else or distracted by many other things of the season. Such buying, done in the right spirit, is part of Christmas, but I want to point out something deeper.
When I think about Christmas as a Latter-day Saint, I turn to the scriptures with this question in mind: “What would Jesus Christ do and give today?” If he taught one thing more than anything else, it was to give, give, give, and give, even as he gave his own life. I declare in the name of Jesus Christ that he gave all and did not think of receiving anything. It truly touches me to think about Christ, and Christmas, and about giving.
What will be the greatest gift of all we can give this Christmas? I think that the greatest and most difficult gifts to give are those of our time, our talents, and ourselves. If I were to summarize what a person might do to have a great Christmas with “more Christ” I would suggest this starting list of things emulating how Christ gave of himself (likening these scriptures to us this Christmas):
- I will do acts of charity for others. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
- I will seek to give of myself spiritually to others. “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
- I will find someone to help and to pray for. “Therefore, follow me, and listen to the counsel which I shall give unto you.” (D&C 100:2)
- I will secretly fast for someone who has a problem. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelations 2:7)
- As an offering to God, I will find someone who really needs a blessing and provide it. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48)
- I will extend my love to all. “If a man…giveth a gift, he doeth it grudingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift.” (Moroni 7:8)
- I will comfort the sick. “Heal the sick…: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
- I will visit widows and the homeless and share with them the scriptures. “And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.” (3 Nephi 19:9)
- I will sing with someone who needs to sing. “For God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- I won’t pass by someone downtrodden without trying to uplift. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
These are some examples of real gifts, to give as Jesus gave of himself. As I understand things, this is the true evidence of Christ being among us. I testify to you of the Savior Jesus Christ, the King of all the world, a divine being, the one who truly has all power in heaven and on earth, who has given us such a great example that it cannot be ignored. Let us look within ourselves so that we may become like Him. When we have his fellowship, we will think about Him, and as we let our desires and actions be like His, we will become like Him. May we honor “more Christ” this Christmas and always as our actions demonstrate deep faith in Him. Seek this Christmas month to find ways to give from your “more Christ” Christmas list and see what a memorable Christmas it will be.
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