This is the season to be grateful and full of joy that God sent Jesus to be born of the virgin Mary so that we could be free of our sin nature. However, this blessed event , has been replaced by the idol of commercialism and greed. When we should be in the spirit of appreciation, and thankfulness, we are filled with stress and anxiety.
This is the season that many mental health professionals call the time of "Holiday Blues." There are many people who find the holidays as a very lonely and painful time in their lives. They may have loss a love one to death, divorce, or estrangement. Then there are those who spend money they don't have for Christmas gifts, large dinners and parties. It's all about our small circle of family and friends. We often forget about the poor, the homeless, the widows, and the elderly. This group have nothing but memories of when times were better. They seem to be invisible and forgotten thus resulting in depression and hopelessness.
This is the season to look outside of ourselves and think about others. God set this example when he decided to give his son to save our selfish and self centered selves. It is the custom of our family to pull names for Christmas. So part of the name process to share a wish list for gifts. My oldest son Jacques sent a e-mail asking that who ever had his name should used the money to help a needy person/family, and to forgive some one who you consider unforgivable. God went outside of His immediate family and showed care for the entire world.
This is the season to use wisdom instead of traditions. As my daughter Dr. Ife Cormier- Latunde, would say, it makes more sense to start your child a 529 College Fund than to spend $100 on a pair of sneakers or a toy that will be discarded within a year or less. Would it hurt to purchase one less gift for your immediate circle and help a family in need?
We as Christians are to be the "light, a living epistle", we are to set the standards for compassion, love, and unselfishness.
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