There is a myriad of choices when it comes to gift giving. This Christmas season I've been paying attention to the slogans of many retail stores: "Real joy, guaranteed." "Real gifts, real joy!" "One store carrys "must-haves for the whole family". Another has "perfect gifts for all occasions". "The magic of the holidays in one stop,"or " "The happiest holidays manufactured here."
The world would have us think that a worthy gift costs money, comes wrapped in glittery paper, and is the latest and greatest thing. But let's remember the greatest gifts ever given. THEY are the pattern for the way we should give to others.
Heavenly Father gave us his Only Begotten Son. Jesus Christ gave us his very life, he attoned for you and for me.
When someone gives you a gift, do you ever feel like the one you got for them doesn't compare? Or maybe you didn't even get them anything at all. Considering the supreme gifts that the Father and his Son bestowed upon us, what gift could we EVER give them that could possibly compare or repay them?
I think we already know the answer to that question!
Do you remember the lawyer who came to Jesus and tempted him? He asked, "Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."(Matt 22:35)
After Jesus teaches the parable of the good samaratin, He asks all of us to "go thou and do likewise." (Luke 10:30) Doing likewise would mean that we would be more aware of what our neighbor is struggling with. And when we find out what our neighbor struggles with, we would try to lighten their load. We would love them as the Savior loves us.
"When ye are in the service of your fellow men, ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:19)
The best gift we could ever give to others is to serve them and love them! By doing this, we will be giving the best gift of all to our Father in Heaven and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Gordon B. Hinckley said it so beautifully in the Dec. 1983 Ensign,
"Christmas means giving. The Father gave his Son and the Son gave his life. Without giving there is no true Christmas, and without sacrifice there is no true worship."
I love my Father in Heaven! I love my Savior! I hope we can keep them in our hearts and our thoughts more this new year. Then we will be a little more like them and do what they would do if they were here on Earth.
Merry Christmas!
The world would have us think that a worthy gift costs money, comes wrapped in glittery paper, and is the latest and greatest thing. But let's remember the greatest gifts ever given. THEY are the pattern for the way we should give to others.
Heavenly Father gave us his Only Begotten Son. Jesus Christ gave us his very life, he attoned for you and for me.
When someone gives you a gift, do you ever feel like the one you got for them doesn't compare? Or maybe you didn't even get them anything at all. Considering the supreme gifts that the Father and his Son bestowed upon us, what gift could we EVER give them that could possibly compare or repay them?
I think we already know the answer to that question!
Do you remember the lawyer who came to Jesus and tempted him? He asked, "Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."(Matt 22:35)
After Jesus teaches the parable of the good samaratin, He asks all of us to "go thou and do likewise." (Luke 10:30) Doing likewise would mean that we would be more aware of what our neighbor is struggling with. And when we find out what our neighbor struggles with, we would try to lighten their load. We would love them as the Savior loves us.
"When ye are in the service of your fellow men, ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:19)
The best gift we could ever give to others is to serve them and love them! By doing this, we will be giving the best gift of all to our Father in Heaven and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Gordon B. Hinckley said it so beautifully in the Dec. 1983 Ensign,
"Christmas means giving. The Father gave his Son and the Son gave his life. Without giving there is no true Christmas, and without sacrifice there is no true worship."
I love my Father in Heaven! I love my Savior! I hope we can keep them in our hearts and our thoughts more this new year. Then we will be a little more like them and do what they would do if they were here on Earth.
Merry Christmas!
