12 Days of Service: Day 1

Today we started our 12 Days of Service tradition. We changed a few service activities this year, but kept some of the old favorites. I really love this tradition. I love the fact that it allows all of us to look beyond ourselves, especially during this time of the year. I love that it teaches the kids that service isn't always about giving money; service can be giving of your time and simply showing you care. It doesn't always require a grand gesture; sometimes the simple things mean the most. I love that it provides the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas - Christ - and to be examples of Him. In any case, tonight was our ward Christmas party. As a part of the party, the young women's organization was collecting canned food donations for a local food bank. We decided to take advantage of this service opportunity. Jeff and I provided each of the kids with $5.00, which they could supplement with more out of their own wallets, then let them buy as much as they could at the grocery store. I was proud to see that, without hesitation, they added to the $5.00. It was also fun to see how meticulous they were in deciding what to buy so that they could get as much food items as possible.