[media-credit id=173 align=”alignright” width=”349″][/media-credit]Dear Editor:

In senior English class this year, we read “Babette’s Feast,” a short story about what it means to find joy. The narrative seemed to teach the lesson that joy lasts forever, but happiness is only temporary. True joy can only be found through prayer, because we need God?s help in order to achieve it throughout life.

We can all experience joy this Christmas season by giving to our loved ones and peers through sharing God’s love and encouragement with them.

Most people consider giving as a physical action, not a spiritual one. Everyone purchases gifts during Christmas, but I think we need to realize that sometimes the best gifts are not the tangible ones. If we recognize this, we can learn how to give and fulfill the word of God, and how to start on the path that God?s word commands us to follow.

We have the opportunity to find joy on this path when we show others the power God has over us, simply by trying to live our lives for him. In my own experience I have tried to do this when we spend time with my uncle and his family during Christmas because they are not believers. I try to show them through my actions what God commands us all to do such as obeying my mom, treating others kindly, and being true to myself.

The fact that we understand how he is always there for us and that he will never leave us is an example of searching for the Lord in a way that could direct someone else to him. We also have to realize that joy can only be achieved through asking him for it, because we as humans do not have the capability of learning it on our own.

I would like to challenge the readers to use this season of celebration as a chance to be a role model to those surrounding you, maybe even helping change someone’s perspective on the joy our father in heaven portrays to us. Sharing the hope of God and his word can simply mean living by example; it’s not always about questioning someone?s beliefs.

Let’s all practice some self-reflection this season to see how we might improve our witness as we approach Christmas, because the ultimate joy a Christian can gain is knowing that they positively impacted someone’s faith.

For more letters, read the Sept. 7 article, LETTER: I love FC Underground.