The best gift is to be sharing and loving

By Omid Rahmanian

and Kay Larson

Baha’is of Wrangell

Looks like Christmas started for Wrangell after the storm visited us, as so many arose to show loving kindness, forgetful of self and finding time for others. By serving each other, lending a hand, offering hospitality in absence of heat, taking hot food for those without power, checking up on the elders, giving a ride to the stranded — the list goes on.

Isn’t that the spirit of Christmas? Love in action. Every time we love without expectation, every time we give unconditionally, it is Christmas, it is prayer, it is worship.

Mother Teresa reminded us, “It is not how much we give but how much love we put in giving that matters.”

Expressions of this love are palpable everywhere. We are enriched and warmed by it. Suddenly, we started letting go of the meaningless and focused on values we all cherish. We celebrate Christmas in this spirit. Together we honor love, joy, service, kindness, compassion, generosity, regarding all as members of our family.

We do this so well here in Wrangell, letting our love shine like the rays of the sun to everyone from every race, faith or no faith, culture, creed, or color.

The best gift of this season is to be grateful for how much we already have. Right?

As we gather around the table for meals may this be our prayer:

“He is God! Thou seest us, O my God, gathered around this table, praising Thy bounty, with our gaze set upon Thy Kingdom. O Lord! Send down upon us Thy heavenly food and confer upon us Thy blessing. Thou art verily the Bestower, the Merciful, the Compassionate.” — Abdu’l-Bahá