Here’s a photo with my grand babies I took over Thanksgiving that brings so much joy to this Grandma! As we inch closer to Christmas, it’s so easy to let ourselves get stressed, anxious or frazzled over the gift-giving aspect of the holidays. It can be challenging to find that perfect present for each family member or friend, but it is also beautiful to witness the magic of Christmas come alive on that morning. I enjoy seeing sheer excitement and wide-eyed expressions light up the faces of the little ones on Christmas morning, as they unwrap their boxes... one gift at a time. But as a mother and now "GlamMa" ☺️, I have tried to teach that some of the best examples of the spirit of giving and receiving occurred in Bethlehem, when the three wisemen and many others shared their treasures with the Baby Jesus:
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)
However, if we hand out our gifts, whether gold or silver—padded with lots of love, mixed with our time and service to others, I know God loves and appreciates us for being His heart and hands on earth. Our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He shared with the world the most precious, priceless and perfect gift He could ever give to mankind… His only begotten Son.
It is no wonder that we find so much joy in giving to others during this time of year. After all, Jesus himself gave the ultimate sacrifice for our redemption. We are eternally indebted to Him, who freely gave us the glorious blessings of the Atonement and the Resurrection.
I love what mormon.org is doing. It's been going on since Nov 24th and will run through Dec 25th. It's called “Light of the World” and it encourages those who follow it through the month to serve "in 25 days, over 25 ways." It’s really worth checking out.
This is the season of giving, so let us remember, it is not how MUCH we give but rather how much LOVE we put into the giving that truly matters. I share from knowledge through my personal experiences, that it is truly by giving that we can begin to receive His grace and abundant blessings. I look forward to seeing the priceless expressions of Christmas on the faces of my little grandchildren Stephen, Christian and Rocket this Christmas and as they grow, I pray they can learn that the greatest JOY in life is giving much more than receiving.
What was the most special Christmas gift you received and treasure ‘til this day? Regardless of your religious affiliation, I hope you have a great holiday!
Enjoy the Spirit of Giving and have a Happy Sunday! 🤗🎁💋