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?”
To be entered into today’s drawing giveaway – Read the story below; “Comment” your answer on Facebook or our blog.
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.
As we celebrate Christmas this year may we remember who we are celebrating, the birth of are Savior and what He did for us. The most important gifts are those of love and service to one another.
As I think of adding more to my Christmas list that includes more Christ, I will surely remember to not take anything for granted and to Love as the Savior loved, unconditionally each day. I will smile, smile, and smile! A smile goes a long way, it can brighten any day and it helps us to refocus, even it is only for a moment in time. As I do this, I am focusing on the one and Jesus Christ.
I will do acts of charity for others
Christ’s name is in the very word of Christmas we celebrate, yet it has become the last thing on the list of things to think about throughout much of the season. I think as I write cards to send out or those types of things I will capitalize His name, to emphasize Christ in CHRISTmas in my own mind and hopefully have a ripple effect to those I love. And post the word CHRISTmas on the fridge to remind myself and our family of all He has done for us.
I love this! I want to share this with my ward. Being more like Christ by giving of our time, our efforts, our love, our support is a beautiful concept–not just at this time of the year but throughout the year. I will share the love of Christ with more people.
I know a missionary couple who are the prime example of More Christ. While on their mission they touched so many lives. Their love and non stop giving will be forever embedded in my heart.
I will be more aware of others around me and offer encouragement and support to those I see that are struggling.
I will be a better minister to my friends and family and more cognizant of those in need.
I will be reaching out more to those who are alone this Christmas.
I want to put more Christ in my life by reaching out and blessing at least one other person each day this month. Maybe nothing fancy, but a smile can mean the world to someone
I’m going to choose wisely which Christmas activities I will participate in this year. I’ll spend my time and energy and money on lifting and helping others and sharing Christ’s light and hope with them.
I will take time each day leading up to Christmas to ponder and plan what I can do to give of myself to others that day. As I do I will think of this gift as an offering of love to my Saviour to honor him for his birthday.
I will spend more time speaking with my grandchildren individually and bearing testimony of Christ to them.
I am going to play and sing Christ centered Christmas music and be still and feel the spirit of the message!
There is no better way to honor the birth and life of the Lord Jesus Christ than to seek out someone who grieves, someone who is poor in spirit and whose hands hang down, the sick, the lonely, the infirm, indeed, any of the Savior’s sheep in need of His love, His peace and comfort. “If ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
On my More Christ Christmas List is to feel and recognize the love of Christ more in my life, and to spread that feeling as I treat others with love and kindness.
As we discussed in Sunday School today I will strive to be more merciful to others and be less judgmental.
Two things on my more Christmas list.
1. I am trying to be like Jesus by being more present with the people I am with and seeing them as God sees them. I notice when I focus on the person, there is more love in my heart for them and I am able to serve more as Jesus would serve.
2. I am giving acts of service this year to some of my friends. I am telling them about my service in their Christmas card. I asked my loved one to do the same for me and I will open the cards of service on Christmas morning.
As I think about More Christ, Christmas I think about my family. I want to give each of my 20 grandchildren “More Christ,” they get plenty of Santa and worldly Christmas. But to get Mire Christ I will need to talk of Christ more often when I’m with the kids, and try to direct their thoughts toward Christ ! If we don’t talk about Christ every chance we get we will be letting our opportunities go by.
This year I want to focus on More Christ! Look into my heart & give as Christ would! Do more things that center around Christrsther than Santa! Give of outselves! Our time, talents & our spirit!
I will sing Christmas songs about Christ and Christmas. Salt Lake Singers are singing tomorrow (Monday, Dec 5th) at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square at 5:00 p.m. You all are invited. I invited a few people from our ward and neighborhood and maybe one of them will come. My wife and I enjoyed being part of singing some of the same songs at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Salt Lake city last Friday. I would also like to do some Christmas caroling with some of my kids/grandkids this year if we can work it out.
I love the reminder to find someone to pray for. Often there are those in our lives who are resisting the peace the gospel can bring. We can pray for them, though. We can pray that their hearts might be softened, that they will encounter those whose service they are willing to accept, that they will feel the love of God…The possibilities are endless. As we listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost we will know for whom to pray.
Something I have been pondering lately is reaching out to those less fortunate than I and to give them the love and respect that they deserve as a child of God. Our Savior is the perfect example on how to treat everyone.
On my more Christ Christmas list is to give the gift of listening without judgment, to be present and just listen.
I want to give more time to reading the 4 gospels this month to better understand the Savior’s life.
I will give love and support to the wonderful sister missionaries in my ward who are away from their families.
I will share the truths of temple blessings and invite those not familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the upcoming McAllen, TX temple open house.
I will emphasize the joy of giving to my grandchildren by asking what they did for others rather than what they received for Christmas.
I have let my prayers and my Father in heaven guide me to a few families that need help at this time.
When I give I really “Get”. I “Get” happiness when I give.
It’s a win win.
Our Lord and God want us to experience what they know. That you will always have more when you give.