Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection. Both quiet moments and hurried hours blend together in celebration with family, friends, and strangers alike. Christmas is a season of preparation and planning, as well as surprises and wishes that create a lifetime of memories and an untold number of family traditions. During this period when there is so much to do and so much to celebrate, take time to savor the real spirit of this season and to celebrate what Christmas is truly about—the birth of the Christ child in a humble manger.
We associate so many words with Christmas: presents, Santa, reindeer, and more. But the true meaning of Christmas should be focused on Christ. Christ’s birth is rejoiced over and families all over the world celebrate by reading the humble story in the New Testament. There are so many amazing words used during the holiday season to describe Christ's humble beginnings and they're all included in Words of Christmas: Savoring the True Meaning of the Season One Word at a Time. Here are just some of our favorites:
Everything about Christmas is a miracle, making it the most miraculous time of year. The virgin birth, the choir of angels, the bright new star, the gifts of the Magi—all of those miracles point to the greatest miracle of all: our Savior, Jesus Christ.
“But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.”
Mormon 9:11
Christmas marks the birth of He whose very name defines charity. Every kind deed and every gift we give anyone is a gift to God because His paramount concern is the welfare of His children.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have no charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all.”
Moroni 7:46
Of all holidays, it is Christmas that brings us a full measure of hope, for it is the celebration of Him whose very life speaks of hope.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:13
There may be no wonder in the world equal to that in a child’s eyes on Christmas morning. We should all feel that same wonder, not for the lights and the gifts beneath the tree, not for the steamed pudding or the carols drifting through the winter air, but for what those things represent.
“Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.”
1 Chronicles 16:9
Oh, that we may all believe, now and forever. May we believe in Him. In His mission. In His Atonement. In His Resurrection. In all He has done for us. And most especially in His invitation to come and follow Him.
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
John 20:31
Get a copy of Words of Christmas for your bookshelf at Deseret Book or deseretbook.com!
