CHRISTMAS BEGINS WITH CHRIST!

Our Relief Society sisters began this year with a Carlson Farm Ward theme for 2018: “I Will Choose Him Again”.  Each month we have explored how best we can emulate the Savior through joy, love, radiating His light, extending forgiveness, and the other several topics we touched on throughout the ensuing months.

Then, as a conclusion to this year’s challenge to “Choose Him Again”, the ward Relief Society chose for a December theme simply “Choose Christ”.

I was thinking about that theme while I was sitting in Primary Sharing Time last Sunday. (Happily, I am still the ward Primary president!)  When it was Singing Time, the song leader cleverly introduced the songs for the month by talking about the symbols of Christmas which are each representative about some aspect of Christ.  Those symbols were hidden around the room in Christmas gift bags which the kids took turns finding. It was fun watching them gleefully participate in this treasure hunt as the activity unfolded.

The song leader started with a small tree and while she was taking it out of the bag explained that Christmas trees are Evergreen trees.   Not only do they symbolize the “living” Christ because they are always green and alive, but the branches of an Evergreen tree all point upward to heaven.

Next was the star which gave direction to the shepherds and the Wise Men who came seeking him. That star also guides us to Him.

Then she placed a string of lights on the tree.  The kids had no trouble recognizing that the lights also represent the “light of Christ”. 

She told them red is the first color of Christmas.  It represents the blood which Christ our Savior shed for us to redeem us from our sins. 

As she put presents under the tree, she reminded them that Christ was God’s gift to the world for our redemption.  And…presents significantly typify the gifts the Wise Men brought to the Christ child. 

When she held up a small poinsettia bloom, the kids correlated that poinsettias are also star-shaped.  There are two colors: red typifying the first color of Christmas and white for Christ’s purity.

Candy canes have a special meaning, too.  The crook at the top is a reminder that Christ is the Good Shepherd who watches over all of us, bringing the one back to the fold if any stray.

 Holly came next.  It is important because the red berries and prickly green leaves last all year.  The sharp edges of the holly leaf are a reminder of the thorns placed on the Savior’s head before his crucifixion.

When she pulled a wreath out of a colorful bag, she told the kids that a wreath’s circular shape represents one eternal round.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ's family for eternity!

And last…she said bells symbolize the announcement of Christ’s birth, as their joyful peal reminds us of that remarkable news every time they ring.

While the song leader was having the kids share what they knew about these symbols of Christmas, I thought about how the world is trying so very hard to take Christ right out of Christmas!  

There are blatant substitutions.  Winter holiday.  Forest animals.  Specialized ornaments.  ANYTHING but Christ.  It is getting ever more difficult even to find simple Nativity sets.  And the big department stores that could be counted on to have the really gorgeous—and expensive—Nativity sets no longer carry them.  No one wants them.

But…in spite of trying to take Christ out of Christmas—there He still is!  Right before our very eyes as we decorate our trees with stars, with lights, and bells, etc. and bustle about finding the perfect present to give to our special people.  The stores are FULL of Christ!

Make a mental note when you see these emblems that denote something important about Christ’s birth, life, and death, that Christ is still in Christmas!  Celebrate this year with a glad heart for the message of hope and love that His birth, which we celebrate each December 25^th, promised so many years ago.  His life simply cannot be erased.

CHOOSE CHRIST! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

PS Another really meaningful way to choose Christ is to participate in the LDS Church’s Christmas initiative this year.  There has been much opportunity provided by the Church in the previous Christmas seasons to reach out to others in an uplifting and helpful way.  This year is yet another opportunity to make a difference through service to our neighbors near and far away from us.  Check it out!  Just google “Light the World 2018” for ideas on how to participate in all kinds of service projects, either solo or with groups.