The greatest gift of all
Last week I received good news from our opinion editor: I have to claim the goodies and cash gift from The Freeman. With so much gratefulness, I consider every gift, regardless of size and cost, meaningful. Gift giving is just customary in all occasions but so distinct during Christmas. Indeed, it is ubiquitous in every Christmas season.
And for every Christmas gathering, there seems to be an impetus to justify the reason for celebration, whether for bonding, renewing ties with relatives and friends or simply for merrymaking because of the excess that we have received.
The celebration has probably changed the way it is observed. There were times perhaps that the family was complete, physically. Or there was a year when one or two members of the family were away from home for some reasons and so families just resorted to online messaging, be it recorded or real time.
Christmas is a time for nostalgia, but it is also a time for making new memories. Enjoy the fellowship of new friends, and cherish the company of family in this season of loving and sharing. A word of cheer and love from someone near is a gift from one held dear.
Christmas is a season of great joy, a time for remembering the past and hoping for the good future. We hang on to the glorious message of peace and love that would fill us with joy. We hope that during this time of faith and family, may the true meaning of Christmas fill us with joy. May it be filled with lots of presents but more importantly lots of love from the ones that matter most.
The circumstances of Jesus's birth-in a stable-were far from ideal, but worse for Joseph and Mary, was to come as the family, was forced to flee the country. Such human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us and the world over.
Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ's unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another, which is not an easy message to follow. But we shouldn't be discouraged. Rather, it inspires us to try harder. To be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives. We need to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.
Christmas is a wonderful reminder that God's generosity was not limited by prevailing social conditions. In fact, it was into those conditions that He gave the human race the greatest gift of all: His own son, Jesus Christ. This gift of God came at great cost. He didn't limit His giving but instead He gave the life-giving gift in the midst of a climate of spiritual scarcity. During the greatest recession of the soul is the ultimate revival of the spirit.
Let us all be thankful for we have been given the greatest gift of all, no less than a gift of life and salvation for all humankind. Let's celebrate! Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
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