It's All About The Giving . . .

Yesterday a friend randomly showed up on my doorstep with this delightful basket full of my favorite Honeycrisp apples. She just stopped by to tell me she was thinking about me and could relate to the things I'm going through as I adjust to life with four in tow. She did something I know I can do better at -- sensing another's need and then actually meeting that need. Thank you Tracy for your kind gesture. It means so much to me.

This visit, combined with a Christmas event I attended at my church on Wednesday, have really embedded in my mind my hopes for this Season. My desire this year is that my family {particularly my children} will come to find greater joy and fulfillment in the giving of gifts to others instead of merely in the anticipation and receiving of gifts from others. I want them to understand that helping others, giving to others and meeting the needs of others are the very best gifts we can give - not only to others, but to our Savior, whose birth we celebrate at this time of year.

This Christmas we'll be encouraging and teaching our children about this great lesson by doing the following to bring light and happiness into the lives of others:

Find some secret service to do for an elderly neighbor.
Anonymously help provide Christmas to a family in need.
Take cookies and poinsettias to our neighbors and friends.
Learn about a good cause and make a charitable contribution to it.
Earn money to buy gifts for siblings by doing extra jobs and chores.
Send gifts and cards to missionaries serving from our ward and Service men and women stationed abroad.

A quote by David O. McKay helps to sum up what I'm feeling today:

"True happiness comes only by making others happy. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts grow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to do kind deeds of service. It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring 'peace on earth', because it means goodwill toward all men."

What will you give to others this Christmas?