If there ever was a year to get your family excited about service during the holidays, this is that year. You may have noticed many people are getting into the true spirit of Christmas by doing acts of service and then posting about it on social media using the hashtag #LightTheWorld. This is part of a worldwide Christmas campaign put out by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wherein they are asking everyone to focus on Christlike behavior for the 25 days in December leading up to Christmas Day. The movement is inspiring as well as contagious! Serving others is a true form of joy we can all share.
In light of this uplifting campaign, I have reached out to a few friends and family I know who are incorporating service into their Christmas season this year.
Even my youngest, at just 5 years old, is getting into the idea. This week, in his church primary class, he was given a set of paper hearts which had the words: “Secret Service to Know I Care” written on them. He carefully cut them out and went about his quiet acts of service by making his brother’s bed and tidying up his sister’s room. After doing this, he left his paper heart for them to see. His siblings’ reactions were perfect!
Halli Wessman commented to me that she has never heard so many, “I love you’s” spoken by her children before. And the other day, her 6 year old son, Max, came home from school all prepared to go shovel driveways--ready to serve his neighbors.
On her way to work, Jill Hill wrote this on Social Media: “Yours. Mine. Everybody’s. I usually try to avoid panhandlers, but this morning I made eye contact with the guy at the freeway off ramp. I’d just finished my “Help me know who to help today” prayer. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul and WOW, his eyes in that moment. A hot breakfast/drink from McDonalds felt necessary but inadequate. I get frustrated that I can’t solve all the big problems in the world like poverty, but it’s the small one-on-one moments we’re given to help others that we get to feel God’s love for them and us. #LightTheWorld”
This is just one of the suggestions given in the “25 days of the Worldwide Day of Service”: Jesus Honored the Sabbath and So Can You
Some ways to get involved:
*Turn off your cell phone for a few hours today
*Attend a religious service in your area
*Visit a family member
Speaking about “Light the World,” Shannon Rich says, “I love the idea behind it. I love that the (LDS) Church is always up to date with technology. I think adding the hashtag opens it up to more people who may ignore the Church otherwise. I think “Light the World” has such great, deep meaning.”
Rich says that every morning she and her daughter watch the video clips together to spark an idea about the activity that day. One very special moment occurred when, on December 1st, just after watching the opening clip of “Light the World” as a family, and discussing what they could do for others, their doorbell rang. On their doorstep they discovered a card with money inside. Rich tells us, “I count that as a tender mercy and am so thankful for that person.”
Can all of these acts of service really change the world? Yes. One small act at a time can ripple out from one person to the next and so forth. Rich says, “If anything it’s strengthening our family while bringing us closer to the Savior and that’s what matters to me.”
Among the many who are taking the opportunity to get involved with “Light the World” are also teenagers. I asked brothers, Jonathan and Ethan Hansen, ages 17 and 13, to give me some input about their experiences.
Jonathan tells us, “I talked to a person at school that was lonely. I brought treats to home teaching families and I prayed for a friend. This has helped me become a better person and by serving it has made me want to serve more. “
Younger brother, Ethan, says, “I have been doing many things to “Light the World”. The first thing I do every day with my family, is watch the video that explains how to serve that day. Then, we read the ideas of how to serve and pick one. I have prayed for my Uncle who was about to have surgery. I donated canned goods to my school for the food bank, I prayed for a friend who had a concussion and I was obedient to my parents.”
Ethan realizes that doing service helps him feel good inside. He reminds us, “Being a ‘light in the world,’ by serving others, makes the world a better place.”
Shannon Rich posted this scripture from the Book of Mormon, on social media as one of her favorites: “Wherefore ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” (2 Nephi 31:20).
You, too, can be involved with the contagious feeling to “Light the World” this Christmas. Go to www.mormon.org for more ideas.
