The 12 days of Christmas giving

Weatherford Clayton

Tired of hunting for Christmas presents? Still looking for

meaningful presents for your loved ones? Have I got a deal for you.

It’s an innovative idea. No money down, no chasing around the mall

parking lot searching for a parking place. You might call it a fresh

approach to giving presents. It’s wrapped with kindness and tied with

the ribbon of love. It’s based on time-tested principles that came to

light thousands of years ago when a star appeared in the heavens. And

it even comes with an owner’s manual. A thick one. Here are a few

simple gifts you might give to your loved ones that might stick with

them long after the batteries in the portable CD player give out.

They might not be as tangible as four calling birds, three French

hens and two turtle doves, but they don’t need a lot of bird seed and

take up decidedly less room in the house.

So let the 12 days of Christmas begin. They start on Dec. 25 (the

birth of Christ) and end Jan. 6, the coming of the Magi (Epiphany).

On the first day of Christmas, give your family the gift of peace

in your home. Leave anger out of your responses. Recognize that anger

is something we allow, not something others make us feel.

On the second day of Christmas, give your spouse the gift of being

absolutely true to your relationship, allowing nothing to interfere

with your marriage. Honor the promises you made at marriage, in good

times as well as bad.

On the third day of Christmas, leave criticism out of your

communication and honestly praise your family members. Build love in

the family, so peace can grow in your home. The Master Builder can

help you.

On the fourth day of Christmas, be a loving parent. Hug them.

Encourage them.

On the fifth day of Christmas, give the gift of example. Teach

them to choose right from wrong. Be honest. Be good. Turn away from

anything that would offend your mother -- your family is watching.

On the sixth day of Christmas, listen. When they talk to you, stop

what you’re doing and pay attention. Respond with love.

On the seventh day of Christmas, be a friend, but also a parent.

Set guidelines to protect your children.

On the eighth day of Christmas, be forgiving with family members.

We all goof up, and we all need to forgive.

On the ninth day of Christmas, say “I love you” to your spouse and

your children. The best day to say those words is today.

On the 10th day of Christmas, honestly ask forgiveness for things

you did or said which hurt a loved one. There will never better time

than now.

On the 11th day of Christmas, give the gift of gratitude.

Acknowledging your loved one’s efforts increases their confidence.

Acknowledging God’s hand increases our peace and perspective.

On the 12th day of Christmas, worship God. The world needs a moral

center. Our children will learn it best through watching how their

parents love deity.

These gifts may not be fancy or expensive, but they are paid for

with a much more important currency than either greenbacks or silver.

They are paid for with the currency of the heart. Two thousand years

ago, a child grown to man taught us about that currency. Let us carry

on his legacy through the gifts of the heart we give in our families.

* WEATHERFORD CLAYTON is the president of the Newport Beach Stake

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also a

doctor practicing in Newport Beach, specializing in obstetrics and

gynecology.