What does Christmas mean to you?

By Enid Westerlund. 25 December 2022, 1:00PM

It's that time of the year, when people reflect on the past year, eat, drink and be merry in preparations for the new year. It is also the time when people indulge in too much alcohol resulting in fights, disorderly behaviour and accidents.

Reading about a father killing his own child out of rage this week, is a sad beginning to Christmas. We seriously need more peaceful parenting campaigns in Samoa and advice for parents. We cannot keep using physical violence to bend and break our children if they do not do what we demand.

While Christmas is a time for family gatherings and celebrating the end of a long year, sadly it is also a time when people get killed, women and children continue to be abused, lonely people are lonelier and depression is highest for many who do not have help. Be a little more kind this Christmas.

Christmas is a time of giving in remembrance of the greatest gift bestowed upon mankind. The gift of salvation, hope and redemption. The real reason for Christmas is Jesus. In the middle of all the fireworks, big bang theory, diamonds and ruby giving, we have to remember the reason for Christmas! It is through this gift that we have received salvation through grace. Where we are all the same and there are no classes. Where we are all blessed and cursed according to our own choices. Where would be if God was indeed a man? If he was human, half of us will be gone by now, who knows?

As a Christian, if we are to judge anything or anyone, we ought to judge ourselves. We ought to search our hearts and minds if indeed we are living as Christ taught. To love one another as we love ourselves and to love God with all our being. Are we really trying? Do we live as we are commanded and not based on our perceptions on how we ought to live? What standards are we going to live by in 2023?

We cannot know the mind of God and Christmas is the illustration of his ultimate love for us. In his limitless power, glory and might, he became one of us and dwelt among us. Now, we don't have a visible representation of him but as a believer we have faith in him and reading the scriptures to guide and sustain us.

I love what John Piper says about faith: Believing in Jesus is a soul coming to Jesus to be satisfied in all that he is. Faith is “seeing and savouring Jesus, being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus, and trusting Jesus,” and that those three things are equivalent realities.” Those realities should also be apparent in our actions.

Remember it’s not about the gifts, it’s about love in action. Love is the ultimate message. Enjoy this time with family instead of your work computer or phone. Strangers on the internet can wait for your update in 2024 but use this time to love your family. Be kind to yourself, refuse to give into peer pressure, guilt buying or using gifts to get favour from others. These are short term feelings that will subside. Do what’s best for yourself and your family, do what’s best for your mind and pocket.

While we enjoy another peaceful Sunday Samoa, think about others who aren’t as fortunate as us around the world. Many are worried about where the next meal is coming from and many do not have families to enjoy. Stay safe out there and enjoy being home. Merry Christmas and a fruitful new year Samoa!

By Enid Westerlund. 25 December 2022, 1:00PM
Samoa Observer

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