You know, I really like getting presents at Christmas time. One time I got a Victorinox Swiss army knife that I had really been wanting, and it totally made my Christmas. But then there are those times that you get a gift that really bums you out – like a pack of socks or a really ugly sweater. Whether the gifts we receive rock our world or bum us out, it is important to remember that Christmas is not about getting. It's about giving. One of the best ways we can give during Christmas is by serving others. So how can we do that, you ask? Here are some suggestions: 1.) Collect coats, gloves, stocking caps, warm socks, blankets, and Bibles and hand them out to the homeless or donate them to a homeless shelter. 2.) Adopt a needy family and provide a Christmas meal and Christmas presents for them. 3.) Collect new or gently used toys and donate them to an organization that provides Christmas toys to less fortunate families. 4.) Collect canned and boxed food items and donate them to a food bank. 5.) Bake Christmas cookies and take them to an assisted living home for the elderly, then sit and talk with the residents over milk and cookies. 6.) Help your parents cook the Christmas meal and then clean up the meal for them afterwards. 7.) Help your brothers and sister clean their rooms in prep for company. 8.) Shovel the snow off your neigbor's driveways and sidewalks. So there you go. Now here's the most important part. Why is it better to give than receive? Why is it better to serve than be served? Because in giving to and serving others, we are showing them the true meaning of Christmas: The love, grace, and forgiveness of God, fulfilled in the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So give generously. Serve frequently. And most importantly, do it all with the love and tenderness of Jesus. He is the best gift we have ever been given, and He is the best gift we could ever give to someone else!
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