Christmas traditions - #6

Service.

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

A big part of Christmas for me and Rick is being involved in giving service of some sort. Big projects. Little projects. Service projects for strangers, for neighbors, for family, for missionaries, sometimes for those poor in spirit who need a lift. I'm pretty sure that every year we've been involved in something. This year Rick made some wonderful suggestions of people we could help, and even though I may receive the credit, he has been the one behind me with the idea and the means. One year when I was the YW president, the Bishop helped buy a mobile home for a family in need. The YW were called in to clean the home and decorate it for Christmas and all the girls really got in to that project. Another year when I was involved in RS, we bought food for about 20 families and took turkey dinners to all those people. I've been involved in taking bread baskets and long distance calling cards to all the single women in the neighborhood. When our kids were little, we did the 12 days of Christmas to brighten the lives of various neighbors and friends. We've contributed anonymously to people who were struggling and we've invited single women to Christmas programs and to come over to our house for dinner. We've been involved in providing Christmas gifts for a family in need, buying children's clothing and other needed and wanted items for Christmas gifts.
This year at the MTC, they involved the 2000 missionaries in assembling 10,000 hygiene kits for Humanitarian aid. The missionaries loved being able to provide some service and do some good, even before they reach their fields of labor.
I just don't think Christmas would feel right if there weren't some sort of service involved. It's been fun to watch various families and to see what their service projects have been. I really like the Skeens idea of giving cash to their daughters and their families and letting them decide how they would spend it to provide service for someone in need. Instead of giving gifts to one anther, the Smiths choose a family in their area and provide Christmas gifts for them. There are many great ideas and ways to serve and it doesn't have to even involve spending money. To me giving of time, giving attention, giving of ones self is what brings happiness throughout the year.
We have Andy's missionary picture on our piano this year. He and thousands of others are out there doing what the Savior would do. They're giving of themselves, and helping to lift the burden of another. We can't all have that full-time opportunity to serve, but we can serve within our own sphere of influence. In front of his picture is a little manger that was made by a carpenter in our ward. He made one for each of he Young Women and we put a little bundle of straw in each. The idea is do give service each day through the month of December and as you do, to put a little hay in the manger. After a month of doing this, the manger fills up and is ready for the Christ child on Christmas day. I love this concept! Doing some little service each day for a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or even a stranger will help make your Christmas month so much better.
"In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to 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—good will toward all men.” Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Then each Christmas will be the best Christmas ever. " Thomas S. Monson, “The Best Christmas Ever,” Ensign, Dec 2008, 4–8