Reaching Out to Others at
Christmas
By C.S. Bezas
I set aside that which I usually
write about (our young people and their needs) in a desire
to share something for this Christmas season. As I do so,
I am surrounded by twinkling lights, packages to wrap, jingle
bells, fragrant dishes cooking in the oven.
These are just a few of my favorite
smells and sights and sounds of the Christmas season. What
are yours? And what are your best memories and traditions
of this season, where we as a people joyfully celebrate the
holy birth of the Christ child?
Whatever the traditions are,
they are all wonderful things in and of themselves. Yet I
am troubled. There are those who will not have the privilege
of these sounds or smells or sights this Christmas. I was
reminded of this today when I received an email from a friend
with the following http://www.christmaswishmovie.com.
The link takes you to a site with a touching movie clip that
beautifully honors those who are not with us — faithful individuals
who are far away overseas fighting a war we in the states
can only imagine.
The heartache of families who
are separated in this way must be tremendous. I cannot imagine
the angst, for I do not have loved ones called up to serve
in this way. I write of this not to bring up the politics
of the situation. Not in the least. This is not the forum
for that. I write of this because of a much more important
reason.
I am troubled as to what to do
with this knowledge of these families’ heartaches and yet
the lack of mine in this regard. I know that I am most blessed:
I have my family intact here in the States. We reunite at
home each evening after the course of our daily activities.
We’ve not heard the high-pitched scream of wounded comrades,
the whine of a bullet that fortunately missed us, the hard
percussion of terrifying explosions. No, we haven’t heard
any of this, because we are currently safe (at least most
of our Meridian readers are, I would expect).
I remember feeling the same astonishment
at my good fortune while visiting Auschwitz in Poland with
a chamber choir during my college days. Standing in the frigid
January air, the cold biting through my thick moon boots and
down parka, I stared at the firing wall where so many “dignitaries”
had faced down Nazis and their machine guns. Only the doctors,
city leaders, and other prominent citizens were allowed to
die in this “dignified” fashion; the other Polish Jews, gypsies,
and others who were deemed less desirable were gassed in the
shower chambers.
Being the only church member
in my choir, I couldn’t speak much to the other vocalists
about the spirit I felt in that place. I knew I was standing
on holy ground. I felt I was being told that the Lord recognized
the suffering of these, His children, and the spirit spoke
strongly of it while I was there.
Yet, I couldn’t figure out why
I hadn’t been one of them. Why was I allowed to be born a
United States citizen? Why not a Jew decades earlier? And
why was my family eventually able to join the Church, thus
having the restored gospel to help us as we worked out our
daily challenges and problems?
It’s the same question I ask
today. My life is one of ease compared to these valiant soldiers
fighting for freedom on the other side of the planet. Why
am I so fortunate to be here with my husband, Christmas foods
cooking in the oven, my children laughing in the background?
I’m not sure. But I do know this. Where much is given, much
is expected (D&C 82:3).
Which brings me to the point
of this “Christmas” article. Christmas is rather hollow when
we forget the reason for its presence in our life. The Savior
came to serve us, redeem us, and point us toward home. I must
do the same within my own sphere of possibilities and influence.
Thus, I’ve come to the conclusion
that it’s not so important whether or not I’ve been given
quiet or peace at this point in my life. What matters is that
I be about the business of sharing the peace I have
been given with others. It is not too late this Christmas
season. With this in mind, here are my conclusions on how
to celebrate in ways that are significant. I would love to
hear your thoughts, too.
1. Adopt a soldier. There
are many organizations that work to help support those soldiers
who are away from home. Loneliness does exist amongst these
men and women. We are told to reach out to those who are
less fortunate than we are (especially important this time
of year). One suggestion would be to reach out with the
abundance of our lives, whether that abundance comes in
the form of packages, emails, letters, or cards to a distant
soldier.
Do a simple search on Google
for “adopt a soldier,” check out the credentials of the
organization, and begin to make a difference in the life
of another. This truly, at least in my mind, would fulfill
the real purpose of the Christmas season — that of giving
of oneself to another, especially during their most difficult
moments.
2. Adopt a grandparent.
Soldiers are not the only ones who are lonely this time
of year. Many aged individuals have been “cast-away” into
nursing homes and other agencies. And much to our chagrin
(perhaps) if we ourselves don’t die, we, too, will be old
one day. We then might know just what it feels like to sit
in a small room with unpleasant “old people” odors with
nary a visitor.
The scriptures say, “Fear not
to do good… for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap;
therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your
reward” (D&C 6:33). Thus, one possibility is to complete
this final Christmas week by adopting a grandparent. Your
children might learn more from your example than you may
know (and years later you’ll be grateful they learned their
lesson well, when they visit you in your old-folks home).
3. Adopt a family member.
Is there a family member who is a pariah in your family,
one who is avoided or despised because of mistakes? Yet
we read in the scriptures of the rewards waiting for those
who seek the lost sheep amongst us. Why not find the lost
ones in your family this holiday season and quietly adopt
them? They need you more than you may know. And in doing
so, you will share the Christmas sentiment in far more meaningful
fashion than a simple $15 gift bought at the local department
store.
4. Adopt
a ward member. I think we all know a few people in our
individual wards that we’re reticent to talk to or socialize
with. They might be different from us, or they’ve offended
us, or they’ve “sinned” and we don’t want to associate with
them. Whatever the case may be, the telling question at this
point is, “What would the Savior do?” Why not silently adopt
this person and for the next twelve months do some secret
act of service for him? The results may astound you.
I’ve finally learned that it’s
not productive to feel guilty when I don’t have certain trials
that others do. Rather, I now have concluded that the Lord
simply would have me be His hands and His heart for those
who are facing stringent heartaches, regardless of what those
may be. The soldiers shown in the mini-film link above are
good examples of this.
The Christ child came to bring
peace to a troubled world. I want to be part of that equation.
So as I go about the final days of this Christmas season,
I’m now searching my heart for promptings as to those within
my midst who need my Christmas spirit manifested in thoughtful
deeds, rather than just through my home’s colorful twinkling
lights, shiny wrapped gifts, or yummy smells from my oven.
And may those waiting for you
to come into their lives praise your name forever for finding
them this 2006 Christmas season!
C.S. Bezas’ new book,
Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers has been called the
perfect book for parents of teens and all those who work with
them. It is available at local LDS bookstores and online at
http://deseretbook.com/store/product?sku=4977585.
