What Will You Give This Christmas?

It's Christmas time was again! Every year when December rolls around, I get excited for the season and the joy it seems to bring into everyone's life. One of the most often questions asked this time of year is, "What are you getting someone for Christmas?" Even though the focus of Christmas may change over the years, the concept of giving has always remained at the heart. When most people think of the first Christmas gifts given, they usually think of the 3 wise men and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In reality, however, the first gift given was the gift of our Savior given by our Heavenly Father that first Christmas night. The immortal words of Isaiah still resonate today, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)." Truly this was a day that generations of men and women had faithfully waited for. A day when the Savior would come, and with his life and his death, open the doors of salvation to all of God's children.

So, what will you give this Christmas? Why not give the one of the greatest gifts we can: to give of ourselves. As we give of ourselves in service and love to others, we are following the example of Jesus Christ and giving as he would give. We feel the spirit of Christmas in abundance and then realize that it is in fact, the spirit of Christ. As President Monson states, we more fully understand Christmas when we but drop the last syllable and recognize Christ as the purpose of it.