As I was sitting in Sacrament meeting, I was thinking about the word Christmas. If you break it up into two words it's Christ mas, and in Spanish mas means more...so Christmas is More Christ which I think is pretty neat if you think about it!
In the 2010 Christmas Devotional, President Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk called "Seeing Christmas through New Eyes." He said: "There are certain words that ring like bells in my soul and remind me of the beauty and meaning of Christmas--words such as 'And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus' and, of course, 'Joy to the World!' 'Away in a Manger,' and 'Silent Night.'
There are other words, more cautionary, that are worthy of our consideration as well--words such as:
'Every Who
Down in Who-ville
Liked Christmas a lot...
But the Grinch,
Who lived just north of Who-ville,
Did NOT!'
Uchtdorf went on to say that if we were always looking for what is wrong with Christmas like the Grinch did, we will find plenty of things to complain about. However if we look at everything with a fresh perspective, "even the eyes of a child" that we will be amazed by what we find and maybe, just maybe, our hearts will being to love that which you did not before.
My senior year of high school, I worked for Sears. I remember from November 1st until December 24th, there was always Christmas music playing over the loud speaker (and usually not the good stuff; you can only hear the 12 Days of Christmas so many times before it drives you bonkers). I remember being shocked by the callousness of many people as they came into shop; everyone was so impatient that they had to wait in line--perturbed that we ran out of certain items, or fighting over things with other customers. Every night I would go home just miserable--Christmas was forever changed for me. It wasn't until this year that I was finally able to enjoy listening to Christmas music and even get into the holiday spirit.
There is a book called "A Christ-Centered Christmas" which is what most of our lesson is going to be on. Each of the seven chapters discuss a Nativity member; Mary, Joseph, the Angel, the Shepherd, the Wise Men, the Lamb, and the Christ Child.
First there is Mary; Mary reminds us to ponder....
Mary reminds us that we need to find a moment to ponder the events of that sacred night in Bethlehem. In that moment we celebrate the miracle of Christ's birth, and the gift that Heaven gave.
Luke 1: 26-56
What do these verses teach us about Mary's character? What is most important to her?
Luke 2: 5-7, 19
What do you think Mary is pondering in her heart?
Second there is Joseph; he reminds us to serve...
Joseph represents the desires of our hearts. He reminds us of the secret acts of Christmas kindness given with sacrifice and love to the broken, the weary, the lost, or the lonely.
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-7
Take a moment to consider what it must have felt like when Joseph realized there was no room in the inn. What would you have offered Joseph and his family if you had been there? How can performing secret acts of service help to make room for the Savior in our hearts today? Does Joseph remind you of someone you know who is in need this Christmas season?
Third is the Angel; the Angel reminds us to share the joy...
The Angel embodies a heart that runneth over with the good tidings and great joy of the season. The angel is a reminder that the anticipation of good things to come should fill our hearts with warmth overflowing.
Luke 2: 9-14
What was the great joy and good tidings that the angels brought? What would the news have meant to you if you were there? What does it mean to you today? How does their announcement create feelings of anticipation in your heart? What is your favorite Christ centered carol and why is it so dear to you?
Fourth we have the Shepherd who reminds us to testify.
The Shepherd symbolizes a testimony within, an inner conviction that we have come to know Christ. The shepherd is a reminder for us to come closer to The Lord, now and with haste, and then to share our testimony with others.
Luke 2: 15-18
What can we learn from the shepherds' relationship with each other when they spoke "one to another" and went as a group to find The Lord? Consider the significance of bearing testimony of the Savior; what does your testimony mean to you?
Fifth is the wise men, they remind us to journey another way...
The Wise Men exemplify the journey each of us takes as we seek The Lord. They remind us that as we draw closer to Him, we will be led to continue our journey another way.
Matthew 2: 1-12
Discuss the lessons of the Wise Men. Focus on the privilege of their search and their ability to be spiritually sensitive. Talk about their journey and what it means to journey another way.
Sixth there is the lamb; it reminds us to give thanks...
The lamb reminds us to prepare our hearts to recognize the hand of The Lord in our life, and then, in that instant, to give thanks.
Luke 2: 25-38
Consider the lessons of Simeon and Anna; how can we prepare our heats to recognize The Lord? What are some ways that would help to make our recognition instant and our gratitude immediate? How does becoming a true follower of Christ help us to become one of His sheep?
And finally, we have the Christ Child, who reminds us to believe....
Christ reminds us to offer a gift to The Lord this Christmas season; a gift based on the true work of Christmas, one that will allow us to focus on Christ all year long.
Luke 2: 11-12
The greatest Christmas gift ever given was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Consider what that gift means to you. How has your life been blessed because of the birth of Christ? What are some of the gifts He gives?
I was so grateful to prepare for this lesson because it allowed me to really remember why we celebrate this season. It is not only a time to take out the old and bring in the new, but it's also a time to give more of yourself to others. The Lord is mindful of us in all things and loves us all very much. Thank you for taking the time to read this and ponder the questions that were asked.
Merry Christmas!
No comments:
Post a Comment