As I write this thought of the day let me acknowledge the love and support within our community. I am so thankful for each of you and the joy we bring to each other.
What is the meaning of Christmas? Think about it.
To most of us the believers it is the celebration of the birth of Christ which brings love, hope and joy to our lives as families and communities.
May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and the warmth of family and friends. Let us embrace the coming year with faith and hope for what lies ahead. May this Christmas season bring you and your loved one’s abundance of joy, peace and hope. I pray that you find comfort in the love of Christ and the fellowship we share.
As we look forward to the New Year, let us continue to inspire one another and spread the message of love and justice.
Isaiah 9:6 ‘‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ This is what would Christmas mean to most us. I hope will receive this message of Christmas with love and joy.
Kura had a different response when he received this Christmas message. Many Christmas cards were received but never read. He did not bother to read the message. His question was what about my Christmas gift. Christmas to Kura was about exchanging gifts. Mr and Mrs Jones send a Christmas tree to Kura. Kura opened the gift with a great anticipation that he was going to see something he would appreciate only to find an artificial Christmas tree. Kura grew up in a rural remote area where Christmas trees were not part of Christmas celebrations. He threw it away and decided to break his friendship with Mr and Mrs Jones for giving him a dead tree which could not bear fruit or give shade.
We should never take people for granted, assuming that our cultural values and perceptions should be universalized. Our Christmas celebrations should not undermine other people’s worldviews. To Kura messages without food on the table are not important. Artificial beautiful expensive Christmas trees are not important to Kura. To a poor person it’s about food on the table. Let us remember the poor in our community with what they value and need. Amen
I wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year.