Christmas Gifts

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas gifts lately, as I am sure most of you have. I often hear about what we could give Christ for Christmas. I mean it only makes sense to give him a gift, considering it is His birthday that we are celebrating.

A lot of people ask the question, "What do I give the person who has everything?" They're really hard to give gifts. Well Christ made everything, He inherited all that the Father hath. So what could we possibly give Him?

I've been thinking about past Christmases and the evolution of them, so to speak. I remember when I was younger crawling around under the Christmas tree seeing how many presents I got and trying to guess what they are (I was always wrong). We always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve, and then Santa filled our stockings on Christmas morning. But Christmas was always about the gifts when I was younger. Which is fine. I mean, what kid isn't filled with joy to get new stuff.

One year we went Christmas caroling before we ate dinner, did a nativity reenactment and open presents. And it was torture. I had to not only wait that much longer to open gifts, but I had to go around and sing. A lot. For people. In front of people. Not my favorite thing.

The next year we went again. But this time it wasn't as dreadful. 

Gradually, as the years went on a change happened. No longer was the gifts the most important thing, although they were still a lot of fun and I was always grateful for them. But I cared more about the caroling. Shocking, I know. Don't get me wrong, I still don't like the singing in front of people. But seeing the joy on their faces and getting to serve our neighbors began to be my favorite part. And when we got done with the nativity, I wasn't dying to open gifts anymore. I was happy to open gifts and receive them, but I actually just wanted to watch everyone else open them. And see their happiness in what they got.

When my two older sisters had families of their own, our family decided to start drawing names for gifts. That first year, I felt so weird not getting all of my siblings gifts, so I still made mom buy gifts for my siblings from me (I picked them out but I didn't have money to pay for them).

When I think about all of the care I put in about the gifts that I was going to get, I realized, I don't remember most of the gifts that I got. And honestly, I probably don't have most of them anymore. I can't place the best material Christmas present I ever got (although if you really twisted my arm, my iPhone is pretty legit).

But the best gifts I have ever received in my life, Christmas gifts or not, is the gift of family ties and lasting friendship. I have screwed up a lot in my life. And I still make mistakes daily. But my family has continued to love me unconditionally and my friends stuck by me. Especially lately, when I know that I haven't been the easiest of person to be around. 

Then it hit me. I knew what I could give Christ. If the best gifts I have received from others is friendship, then I could give that gift to Christ. I have been a really bad friend lately, to Christ and to all of my other friends and family. But I still have time to change. I won't be able to do it all at once, but I can change and become a much better, dedicated friend. 

My gift is to strengthen my relationship with Christ. I want to be two peas in a pod with Him. I want to serve Him with all of my heart with no expectation of receiving anything in return. I want to share with Him all of my deepest, darkest secrets, even if He already knows them. I want to stay up late talking to Him. I want to share in joy and sadness. Hard times and elation. He knows all of my weaknesses, sticking points, and flaws, and loves me anyway. What better friend could I ask for? 

And I can do the same. 

I know that Christ doesn't have any flaws or weaknesses. He's perfect. But there is a way that I can do that. That is by being the kind of friend that He is to me, to someone else. He said that:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

-Matthew 25:40 

I have been so incredible blessed with amazing family and friends who have supported me just like the Savior has done. Despite all of my flaws and poor treatment of them, they have been there for me. 

There are those who do not have the same blessing. The best gift that we can give Christ this Christmas is being a supportive friend to those that have no one. And sharing with them the friendship that Christ has to offer. 

And, like in my case, if we haven't been a very good friend, repenting and becoming better. 

If any thing, we can give Christ our efforts to become better. I cannot think of any better present to give than our friendship, our service and our work to become more like Him.

Lasting Testimony

As the semester has come to an end, I was finishing up my reading for my doctrine and covenants class, and something really struck me. 

"And now after the many testimonies that have been given of [Jesus Christ], this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That He lives!

For we saw Him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-

That by Him, and through Him, and of Him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God."

-D&C 76:22-24

During high school, this is one of the many scriptures that I memorized. I used to read this scripture and think, "Man, I wish I could be able to give a testimony like this." Today I realized that I can.

No, I have not had the pleasure and privilege to see our Savior in the flesh. I can't say that I have seen Him. But I can say that I know that He lives. I know it. I have heard and felt the voice hearing record that He lives, He is our Redeemer, and that He is there for us. He is my big brother that has felt all of my pains, weaknesses, struggles, failures, joys, happinesses, successes and all of things that I have and will experience in this life. He knows me better than I know myself and He is always there ready to succor me according to what I need.

You may read this and think, "How can she know? Where is her proof?"

While, I do not have evidence in the way of a picture or a recording of His voice, I have two ways that I know that He lives.

He is everything that I do and in my life. He is in the smiles and hugs of my nieces. He is in the magnificence of my school and ability to learn. He is in my ability to make it through my daily struggles. He is in the beautiful landscapes and mountains that I am always surrounded by. He is in the miracle of how things will work out perfectly as they need to. He is in everything in my life. And all of these tender mercies and miracles could only come from one who has felt my burdens and has the ability to carry me through them.

The other way that I know is I searched for Him. I prayed consistently to know that He is there. I lived in a way that I would be worthy to receive an answer. I looked for His hand in my life. I studied the scriptures to learn more about Him. I really looked for Him and sought for an answer. And I received it. Not all at once, but over time. So much so that I can saw that I know. I don't just believe, I know. I know that He lives and loves each and everyone of us. I cannot deny it.

If you can only say that you believe that He is there, that is okay. It is a great start. I encourage you to seek for an answer if you don't know if He lives. Truly search out to find Him. I assure you that you will get an answer. Don't give up.

As we enter the Christmas season, there is no better time to seek for Him. It will help you to truly feel the Christmas spirit and celebrate it in the way the holiday was intended, and not how the world has come to celebrate it.

"Be of good cheer, and do not fear"

What could you do if you did not fear? 

What could I do if I didn't have fear?

I have been asked that question many times in my life. Usually what follows the answer to that question is, "So what is stopping you?" 

Somehow that is supposed to encourage and motivate me to accomplish those things. And it works. For about two minutes. And then my fears set back in. 

The other day I was reading my scriptures as I fell asleep because I put it off far to long. Before my eyes shut, I read:

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you and will stand by you…" -D&C 68:6

Many times in my life, fear has stopped me from doing many things. And lately, it has become worse and worse. 

This verse was timed perfectly for me. Situations have come up in which I have had to say and do things that I would rather not do. I have been scared of the outcome. But reading this helped me to remember that I do not have to do these things alone. I can receive strength, guidance and help from our Savior.

He is there. Cheering us on. Wanting us to do those things that are hard, but will strengthen and help us and those around us. He stands by us. 

We do not need to despair when hard things come up. We need to be of good cheer. We do not need to fear. Our Lord is with us.