The Real Reason

I have found myself getting a little distracted this season, much like in years past. I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of gift buying and the magic of Santa Clause, Christmas parties and treats, decorating, etc. None of these are bad things, but they are not the true reason for this season. With little ones, I am realizing just how much I have been focusing on the commercial side of Christmas, however. And I don't like it.

This morning, I started humming the tune of one of my favorite Christmas songs and was hit particularly hard when I got to the last verse of the song.

"Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name"

I couldn't even finish humming the song because I got so emotional thinking of these powerful words (thanks in part to those awesome pregnancy hormones!) Of all the gifts we could be given this Christmas, the greatest gift we could have ever asked for has already been given to us. Christ came to earth for the express purpose of saving our souls and giving to us what no one else could possibly give us, eternal life. All he asks in return is that we love and serve Him and others. A small request in comparison to what has been given to us.

So I'm going to try to be better at serving and loving others this season and throughout the new year. I guess you could say this is me being proactive and making a New Years resolution, or just wanting to change my commercialized view of this beautiful season, or perhaps express a little more gratitude to my Father in Heaven for sending his Son to this earth for us.

I'm wishing everyone profound love and joy this season and hope we can all remember to serve and love a little more now and throughout the remainder of the year.

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