Annual Christmas Devotional
December 11, 2008 by DH
Filed under Mormoncopia
It got me, again.
It was when I went to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional this past Sunday, I knew what I was going to hear – that Christmas is about Christ, doing good, and giving and not receiving. Same old. Yet, as always, it left me with a determination to do just that.
Specifically, President Henry B. Eyring, spoke of how when he was younger, his family began the tradition of acting out the nativity scene every Christmas. This tradition continued to grow every year with increasing preparation, fun, family time and spiritual meaning.
President Monson, who exemplifies his own teachings and those of the Saviour, asked us to remember those in need and to visit them. And as usual, he had stories from his own life that illustrated that message.
When I was a child we had a fun Christmas tradition: every year we would spend one or two days making goodies for other people we knew. The following day, we would spend an afternoon in the car (all 7 of us in the mini-van) going from house to house delivering our humble gifts. We would park out of sight from our targeted house and the children would move stealthily towards the door step, drop off the treats and run without being noticed.
Each year I looked forward to our anonymous treat-giving tradition. I enjoyed thinking about the facial expressions of my friends as they discovered their surprise. And now that I’m older, I feel a lot better about what I gave those Christmases than what I received, and remember it a lot clearer.
Nobody’s traditions are the same, explained Elder Eyring, but what’s important is to keep the principles the same – love God, and remember Him and His son in active ways; love your fellow man, and remember him in active ways.
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