Christmas: A time for joy and happiness
IT’S the season of Christmas once again and I’m sure you must have all started to shop for gifts, to pull out the lights and decorations that you had put away last year and plan to hunt for the perfect Christmas tree in the market.
Back home, your mothers must have already started to soak the dry fruits that go into her special Christmas cake and you must be waiting for Santa Claus with his reindeer-drawn sleigh – perhaps even wonder what Christmas gifts he will leave for you under the Christmas tree this year.
Christmas is time of the year when we welcome joy and good cheer into our homes, when we sing carols, wear our best clothes and celebrate with our near and dear ones. 25 December, the day when Jesus Christ was born, is one of the biggest celebrations around the world. Born to Joseph and Mary in a manger in the city of Bethlehem 2021 years ago, Christ the Saviour was visited by the three wise men of the east, the Magi, who came bearing precious gifts with them.
What we must remember, though, is that Christmas is not merely a celebration which involves exchanging of gifts and partaking in lavish feasts; it is the infinite love of God and the many wonderful lessons that Jesus Christ taught us that we must reflect upon as we prepare for yet another glorious Christmas night. The lessons of love, kindness and mercy that Christ Jesus had taught us remain just as relevant over 2021 years after his birth. Humility – Christ, the king of all men and their hearts, lived in utter humility. He lived in utter humility with no pride whatsoever and was born in a manger among the shepherds. Humility is the greatest of lessons that Christmas teaches us. Charity – Christmas is certainly the time to exchange gifts. What could be more precious than the bright smiles of our friends and family members as they unwrap the gifts we have bought for them? The festival of Christmas, however, teaches us that the gift of generosity must be extended beyond our inner circle to those less fortunate – it is only in sharing our privileges that we become truly rich.
Love – Love is a word we all understand. We love our friends, our families, our pets. The love that Christ taught us, though, was a much greater love encompassing all of mankind. Our greatest strength is this love – it is only through this love of humanity at large that we can become the best versions of ourselves. Kindness – Kindness to one and all is what Jesus Christ lived by. The poor, the diseased, the underprivileged all came to him and he bestowed his affections and healings on all of them alike. This is perhaps the most beautiful of all the lessons that Christmas teaches us. From kindness comes mercy – one of the most important values to live by in this world.
Sacrifice – “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us”. It is his deep all-pervading love for us that led Jesus Christ to sacrifice his own life and well-being for us. It is this lesson that we must remember each Christmas. Our families, country, convictions will all demand deep sacrifices from time-to-time and we must not shy away from making them. Perseverance – Despite the constant persecution that he faced from a very young age, Jesus Christ stuck firmly to his path of kindness and love and persisted in teaching his disciples the lessons that he believed in.
In a changing world which is becoming more difficult with each passing day, Christmas brings with it a great lesson of perseverance. Faith – The greatest lesson that Christmas teaches us is that of keeping the faith. Our lives are fraught with challenges and difficult times. Just as the followers of Jesus kept their faith in him and in his resurrection, it often becomes important for us to believe in good times and our own abilities.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Mumbai, India
