Today is Christmas and I'd like to share a few things which woke me up during church service this morning. I don't mean that I sleep through church service, but I'm guilty of nodding off at times when the pastor gets too academic.
The message of Christmas was interesting. He asked what Christmas is and he played a song. His message was simple. He said that Christmas is Christ who was born to save our souls and He died for us and was resurrected in full glory. So Christmas is redemption. Pastor included in the program a letter and wish list he believed that Jesus might have written about Christmas.
This is what I would like to share here as the wish list is very pertinent today and would make a good change from the endless rounds of partying and feasting to commemorate Christmas. I'm sure Christ would be appalled at the way we pig out at the buffet spreads whether in the hotels or in friends' homes without a thought for those who have nothing.
I'm being selective about the items in the wish list and I'm quoting the pastor here:
1. Do you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this
season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that
person is, try giving everyone you meet, a warm smile; it could make the
difference.
2. There are inidividuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no
Christmas tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If
you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to a charity
which believes in Me( Christ ) and they will make the delivery for you.
3. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
4. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally.They
just need to know that someone cares about them.
5. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't
need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth ( Christ's ) and why
I came to live with you down there. Hold them in your arms and remind them that
I love them.
6. If you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then
behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My
presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. (Christ's)
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I
have told you to do. I'll take care of the rest.
I believe that Christmas is a time of caring, giving and sharing, giving of our time and gifts. They don't have to be big expensive gifts. As in the wish list above, it could be help rendered in many ways, the gift of yourself when you share your time with the needy and less fortunate. It could be a service that you could offer, like helping out at children's homes or homes for the handicapped that are always in need of volunteers. If you are wealthy, you could give donations to the Homes or you could also give the orphans a treat or sponsor children's developmental needs. How much more meaningful these acts are when compared to just paying lip service at Christmas time such as giving bigger offerings and shaking hands and singing songs.
However, all these don't have to be done only during the Christmas season (the ten days of Christmas). In fact every day can be Christmas when it comes to caring and sharing. It is also a time for counting our blessings and thanking the Almighty for a new day every morning.
Merry Christmas, peace and goodwill among men. Have a joyous day and connect.
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