~ Seasons Greetings from The Osmonds ~
Jay, Kandilyn, Jason, Eric & Marcus

I want to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! As we look towards the end of this month, and think, "What am I going to give "so and so" for Christmas?" Maybe we could rephrase it to say, "What have I given to "so and so" this year to make their Christmas complete?" Christmas should be a time of reflection, more than a time of anxiety and giving presents. We somehow misinterpret the act of giving gifts as a physical thing, rather than a spiritual one.

We all have been given special gifts from the spirit! These are gifts of love, trust, sensitivity, gratefulness, and many others. When you look back on your actions towards others this year, can you honestly say that you shared a little kindness to someone in need? Or maybe lifted someone's burden a little with a hug, or a positive remark? If so, you have shared the true gifts of the Spirit that were given to you!

When others feel loved, they feel blessed, and in turn, give it to others. And the cycle continues. It's true that "love makes the world go around."  When we get caught up in ourselves, we turn inward, and lose sight of the whole purpose of love and life.  It is selfishness that causes unhappiness.  Selfishness, is the very heart of wickedness. It is the root of all evil! If we truly loved our neighbors as ourselves, life would be very different for sure!

In closing, I want to remind you of a great scripture from the Lord, which helps us to remember why we give: "For inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, ye do it unto me." D&C 42:38