By Kayode Emola
A lot of us often forget the harsh realities this world brings to many especially when we are in our place of comfort. We often intentionally or unintentionally assume that every other person is also comfortable in their own space and therefore do not need to be reached out to. Christmas, however, reminds us all that we all live vulnerably in a world where one could easily be forgotten.
Many of us already know the story of Christmas but for the non-religious amongst us who might not fully know or understand why it is being celebrated, I will take a few moments to share a few reasons with us. Christmas highlights the greatest sacrifice of all time as a loving God sends his beloved Son Jesus Christ to come into a sinful world. Jesus Christ knew what he was getting Himself involved in, yet he did not hold back the love of sharing God the father with us, adopting us as joint heirs to the throne. It is this story of Christmas that gave birth to the resurrection of life which we celebrate during Easter.
I have read many legends stories about how kings, nobles, and rulers of kingdoms sacrificed their only child to save their kingdoms. Several others have sacrificed their valuable asset for the benefit of mankind and these are all admirable stories to read, watch on screens and hear about. Perhaps my greatest fear is not the act of kindness we show each other in our everyday lives and especially Christmas but to those that are easily forgotten.
There are over 735 million people living in poverty today, this figure if put in context is more than people living in over 100 countries of the world. These people are scattered the world over and cut across every facet of our human lives. They are the forgotten of this world and it is quite easy to think they are geographically located in one spot. The difficult thing is that they are not all confined to one place where they can be easily identified. They are cut across every country of the world, and often times easily unnoticed.
Although, Christmas gives us the opportunity to share with those around and far away from us that we can reach and have access to. I believe that those of us who can, should try and reach out to the forgotten ones this season that are struggling. We should try and visit those who may be confined in their houses for one vulnerability or the other due to not having something to celebrate this season.
As much as sharing our little resources with those we know cannot afford something for themselves to celebrate this season, I will enjoin us all to also go into our communities to share some form of kindness to as many as we are able to. When we do though, we should not let Christmas be our only reason to share with others, we need to make it a continuous habit in our everyday lives to reach out to the many in our communities and beyond that are in need. We need to constantly remember the love of God in sacrificing His beloved Son for the benefit of mankind. Apostle John in the Bible narrates it in a better way for us to imagine. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
There is not much sacrifice of love that we can give today that can outweigh the love we ourselves have received. For those of us who can, it would be a blessing to use this season of Christmas to share the love we have all received with those in prison, hospital, hospice, care homes, etc. Let us remember our loved ones, both near and far away. Let us also care and share with those who do not share our passion and who may not have the same life opportunities as we have been blessed with. Wishing us all a merry Christmas and a happier New Year 2022.
