Truth is found in a phrase we sing in Church: "Time flies on wings of lightning" ("Improve the Shining Moments," Hymns No. 226).
Swift in its passing, another year has flown by, bringing us, once again, to the holiday season. We are approaching Christmas, a time we turn our thoughts to the birth of the Savior of the world and open our hearts to those in need, whether in our own households, next door or across the world. It is a time of year when charity, which we understand is the pure love of Christ, moves to the forefront. It also is a time when the tangible often crowds out the spiritual.
"While merchandising and social activities have become part of Christmastime in many lands, it is important that we look beyond the commercialism of the season and focus on Him whose birth it commemorates — the Son of God, the Redeemer, the promised Messiah," members of the First Presidency counseled in their Christmas message in 1993. "Perhaps more than in any other season, feelings and emotions are generally warmer during the Christmas holidays. Where such feelings prevail, it is due to the spirit of the Savior, who came to earth as Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
Decorated houses, brightly wrapped presents and hospitable social gatherings all have their place during the holidays, but these alone have little to do with the spirit of Christmas.
Perhaps we can spend less money and put more effort into our search for gifts that have meaning and reflect our love.
While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, President Thomas S. Monson, who now is first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke about that kind of gift. He told of a little boy who walked hand in hand with his mother and father to a store's toy department to see Santa Claus: "The parents had not been getting along. As the little one climbed upon his knee, old Santa cheerfully asked, 'What do you want for Christmas?' Santa had no ready answer when the lad replied, 'Just for my daddy to love my mommy like he used to' " (Conference Report, April 1965, p. 46).
Elder Ezra Taft Benson, who later became president of the Church, spoke in the October 1953 general conference about a similar gift that he had read about in a newspaper in the eastern part of the United States. He said that he had read an account of a letter that a rich industrialist had written to his 16-year-old son as a Christmas present. "This man could have given his son anything that money could buy — an automobile, a yacht, I guess, if he wished," Elder Benson said. "But when the boy came down from his room Christmas morning and went over to the mantel where he usually found his present, there was an envelope, a plain envelope with his name on it, and he opened it and read:
" 'To my dear son:
" 'I give to you one hour each weekday and two hours of my Sundays to be yours to be used as you want it without interference of any kind whatsoever.
" 'Lovingly, Dad.' "
The world offers many things for purchase; there is a seemingly endless array of items that can be bought, wrapped in fancy paper and placed under a Christmas tree. But none is as valuable as time. When we give of our time to children, parents, siblings and other loved ones, we are giving them the most precious commodity we can offer.
As we contemplate how we're going to spend our money to buy gifts this holiday season, let us plan also for how we will spend our time in order to help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others.
And let us spend some of that time upon ourselves. Let us reserve time to study the scriptures, pray in deep communion with our Heavenly Father and ponder. Let us set aside time to contemplate the great gift of the Savior's birth, which was heralded by angels more than twenty centuries ago, and time to remember His great atoning sacrifice.
With charity — pure love — let us walk in His footsteps as we approach the season celebrating His birth and continue to do so all the days of our lives. As we commemorate His birth so long ago, let us remember that He still lives and continues to be the "light of the world" Who promised: "he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).