Christmas

I love Christmas. I mean I really love Christmas. Celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, making and keeping family traditions, and giving of ourselves.

I confess, I hate shopping. I hate the crowds, the commercialism, the parking and the grumpy feeling I get when I can't find what I need. However I love giving gifts. My favorite is when I am lucky enough to find one that yells out, "I BELONG TO _________!" Hopefully before you have already purchased a gift for that person.

The truth is the gifts I love giving most are the ones I have made. I have made Christmas presents my whole adult life. I wonder sometimes if I make presents because my mother and grandmother made presents. I'm not sure why more people don't make gifts. Maybe it has to do with lack. Lack of time, lack of self confidence, lack of creativity or maybe a combination. Whatever the reason I think we should at least try making a gift from time to time, if for no other reason than to build our talents and to show the people we love that we love them enough to give them a part of ourselves.

I was taught by my Heavenly Father that service is the best gift of all. So if you can't figure out something to make maybe you can figure out something to do for them. Either way there is no better gift than to give of oneself. Maybe this year you can do a little of both. I know I am!