The Reason for the Season
Emily gave her first talk in Sacrament Meeting today! She was excited because it helped her to complete a goal she'd been working on for Personal Progress. For the most part, she prepared and wrote her talk on her own. Emily is a good writer - she wants to be an author someday - so she didn't need much help with the talk. I thought it was so good that I wanted to share it here. Enjoy!
Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? We celebrate Christmas because of the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and he tells her that she will give birth to the son of God and his name will be Jesus. When Jesus was born, three wise men followed the star and found Jesus when he was a small child. They have him gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh.
At Christmastime, we can remember Jesus Christ by giving gifts to loved ones, like the wise men did. Some people forget that Christmas is about giving and not receiving. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And that, everlasting life, is the greatest gift mankind has been given. Every year my family does Secret Santa. Even though we are only required to buy one present for one person, my older sister Madison always buys everyone a present even though she does not have to. Madison looks past what she is going to get and focuses on what we would like and what would make us happy.
At Christmastime, we can remember Jesus Christ when we are grateful. We should be grateful for everything we have all the time, but especially around Christmastime. We have our family and friends to be grateful for. We also have food to eat and the blessing of living in this beautiful world. Everyday my mom is running around the house cleaning and making sure that when we get home everything is ready for us. She always makes us delicious dinners and she does her very best to make sure that everyone is clean and happy. My mom is a great example and I'm grateful for all that she does.
At Christmastime, we can remember Jesus Christ by serving and helping other people. Everyone is busy around this time of year, but we can all find time to serve others. Maybe you could shovel your neighbor's walk or bring them some cookies. My father would like to remind you that doing your home and visiting teaching would also be a great way to serve others. You could even help your mom or siblings with the chores. In Mosiah 2:17 it says, "When you are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." We should always try to be helpful and serve others. In the December 2010 issue of the Friend, there is a wonderful story that illustrates this principle:
Melissa ran her fingernails over the frosted bus window, making designs. It was so cold outside that the window soon frosted over again. Camille poked Melissa. "Look what Kathy is wearing today," she whispered, giggling. Melissa's eyes followed Camille's pointing finger. Kathy sat by herself, her tangled hair sticking out of an old wool hat. Her coat was too short in the sleeves. Her canvas shoes had holes in the toes, and she wasn't wearing socks. Kathy's eyes were downcast. "We shouldn't be mean," Melissa said. "I think her family must be really poor." "You don't have to be rich to brush your hair," Camille said. "Shh!" Melissa warned.
When the bus stopped, Melissa watched Kathy get off the bus and walk with her little brother toward a small house. No Christmas decorations were visible. No lights. No tree. When Melissa got home, Kathy's sad face wouldn't leave her mind. It didn't seem fair that some people had so much and others so little. After dinner, Melissa went to their Christmas tree and picked up each of her presents - one from Grandma, one from her best friend, and one from her little brother. Melissa took her presents over to the table where her parents were talking. "I want to give these away," she blurted out, before she could change her mind. Mom and Dad looked surprised. "Why?" Dad asked. Melissa told them about Kathy. "I know her family," Dad said. "Their father died a few years ago, and there are four children in the family." "May I give her my presents?" Melissa asked. "We can do even better than that," Dad said. Mom smiled and nodded. "We certainly can."
Melissa's family spent the next two days in a frenzy. They cut and decorated another tree, baked more Christmas goodies, and bought food for another Christmas dinner. They gathered clothes for the children - socks, shoes, hats, coats, gloves, shirts, pants, and dresses. Then Melissa and her brothers opened their presents and rewrapped the ones they wanted to give away. Melissa's present from her brother was a doll she had been wanting since September. She thought about giving Kathy one of her other presents instead. Then, thinking how happy it would make Kathy, she wrapped the doll in the prettiest paper she could find and put a big red bow in top.
On Christmas Eve, the family loaded all of the presents into the van. Dad drove slowly past Kathy's house and stopped the van behind a big bush. Melissa and her older brother, Trent, loaded their arms with presents and followed Dad up the walk. Melissa heard the snow crunching loudly under her boots. "Please don't hear us," she thought. When they reached the front step, Dad set down the tree in its stand and a big box filled with food. Melissa and Trent hurried to set down their armload too. Dad rang the bell and whispered, "Run!" Everyone ran to hide behind the bush. Melissa tried to quiet her loud breathing as she watched to see what would happen. When Kathy's little brother opened the door, he looked around, his eyes huge. Then he yelled, "Mom, Kathy, look! It's Christmas! It's Christmas!" Then Kathy came to the door, looking astonished and happy. Melissa had never seen her smile like that before. On the way home, Melissa felt like she was going to explode with joy. "This is the best Christmas ever!" she said.
As we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I know that we can be especially helpful and grateful this Christmas season. I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are real and that they love us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? We celebrate Christmas because of the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and he tells her that she will give birth to the son of God and his name will be Jesus. When Jesus was born, three wise men followed the star and found Jesus when he was a small child. They have him gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh.
At Christmastime, we can remember Jesus Christ by giving gifts to loved ones, like the wise men did. Some people forget that Christmas is about giving and not receiving. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And that, everlasting life, is the greatest gift mankind has been given. Every year my family does Secret Santa. Even though we are only required to buy one present for one person, my older sister Madison always buys everyone a present even though she does not have to. Madison looks past what she is going to get and focuses on what we would like and what would make us happy.
At Christmastime, we can remember Jesus Christ when we are grateful. We should be grateful for everything we have all the time, but especially around Christmastime. We have our family and friends to be grateful for. We also have food to eat and the blessing of living in this beautiful world. Everyday my mom is running around the house cleaning and making sure that when we get home everything is ready for us. She always makes us delicious dinners and she does her very best to make sure that everyone is clean and happy. My mom is a great example and I'm grateful for all that she does.
At Christmastime, we can remember Jesus Christ by serving and helping other people. Everyone is busy around this time of year, but we can all find time to serve others. Maybe you could shovel your neighbor's walk or bring them some cookies. My father would like to remind you that doing your home and visiting teaching would also be a great way to serve others. You could even help your mom or siblings with the chores. In Mosiah 2:17 it says, "When you are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." We should always try to be helpful and serve others. In the December 2010 issue of the Friend, there is a wonderful story that illustrates this principle:
Melissa ran her fingernails over the frosted bus window, making designs. It was so cold outside that the window soon frosted over again. Camille poked Melissa. "Look what Kathy is wearing today," she whispered, giggling. Melissa's eyes followed Camille's pointing finger. Kathy sat by herself, her tangled hair sticking out of an old wool hat. Her coat was too short in the sleeves. Her canvas shoes had holes in the toes, and she wasn't wearing socks. Kathy's eyes were downcast. "We shouldn't be mean," Melissa said. "I think her family must be really poor." "You don't have to be rich to brush your hair," Camille said. "Shh!" Melissa warned.
When the bus stopped, Melissa watched Kathy get off the bus and walk with her little brother toward a small house. No Christmas decorations were visible. No lights. No tree. When Melissa got home, Kathy's sad face wouldn't leave her mind. It didn't seem fair that some people had so much and others so little. After dinner, Melissa went to their Christmas tree and picked up each of her presents - one from Grandma, one from her best friend, and one from her little brother. Melissa took her presents over to the table where her parents were talking. "I want to give these away," she blurted out, before she could change her mind. Mom and Dad looked surprised. "Why?" Dad asked. Melissa told them about Kathy. "I know her family," Dad said. "Their father died a few years ago, and there are four children in the family." "May I give her my presents?" Melissa asked. "We can do even better than that," Dad said. Mom smiled and nodded. "We certainly can."
Melissa's family spent the next two days in a frenzy. They cut and decorated another tree, baked more Christmas goodies, and bought food for another Christmas dinner. They gathered clothes for the children - socks, shoes, hats, coats, gloves, shirts, pants, and dresses. Then Melissa and her brothers opened their presents and rewrapped the ones they wanted to give away. Melissa's present from her brother was a doll she had been wanting since September. She thought about giving Kathy one of her other presents instead. Then, thinking how happy it would make Kathy, she wrapped the doll in the prettiest paper she could find and put a big red bow in top.
On Christmas Eve, the family loaded all of the presents into the van. Dad drove slowly past Kathy's house and stopped the van behind a big bush. Melissa and her older brother, Trent, loaded their arms with presents and followed Dad up the walk. Melissa heard the snow crunching loudly under her boots. "Please don't hear us," she thought. When they reached the front step, Dad set down the tree in its stand and a big box filled with food. Melissa and Trent hurried to set down their armload too. Dad rang the bell and whispered, "Run!" Everyone ran to hide behind the bush. Melissa tried to quiet her loud breathing as she watched to see what would happen. When Kathy's little brother opened the door, he looked around, his eyes huge. Then he yelled, "Mom, Kathy, look! It's Christmas! It's Christmas!" Then Kathy came to the door, looking astonished and happy. Melissa had never seen her smile like that before. On the way home, Melissa felt like she was going to explode with joy. "This is the best Christmas ever!" she said.
As we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I know that we can be especially helpful and grateful this Christmas season. I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are real and that they love us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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