Here am I, send me

As I contemplate the Christmas season this year, I feel like I'm giving but not from my heart.  I'm not giving from the heart; and I'm not giving of myself.  I'm not celebrating Christ by following His example--giving.  But how can I best give?

From the beginning Christ showed us the way to give:

During the Council in heaven when Heavenly Father presented a plan and a need for a Savior: Christ said, "Here am I, send me." He gave his life for us to be freed from sin and death.  His life was spent serving us doing The Father's will.

Christ is not alone as an example of giving oneself for others.

Nephi when called upon to get the brass plates: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded." (1Ne 3:7)

Joseph when Israel asks him to go to his brothers: "Here am I." (Gen 37:13)

Samuel upon hearing the voice of the Lord calling him: "Here am I." (1Sam 3:4)

Isaac when Abraham took him to be sacrificed: "Here am I." (Gen 22:7)

Moses when God spoke to him out of the bush: "Here am I." (Ex 3:4)

The hymn I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go (Hymns 270) expresses this idea for our day: "I'll answer, dear Lord/with my hand in thine/I'll go where you want me to go."

Maybe my favorite example of this is Maria von Trapp: "The only important thing on earth for us is to find out the will of God and to do it." (The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, Pg 11)

When I think how I can best give today (and everyday) maybe my response shouldn't be "What can I give?" or "How can I give?" but simply, "Here am I, send me."