Eagles' Wings Ministries International
The festive season is again upon us. Many people celebrate the festive season in different ways. Generally Christmas is the time when we kind of remember and celebrate the birth of Christ. For now let us put aside theological arguments about Christmas so that we can concentrate on the practical impact it should create in our individual and cooperate lives.
According to the Bible, Jesus Christ is portrayed as one that came to demonstrate the love of God to and for us. Actually it is His love for us that draws us and compels us to believe. The fact that we deserve to be punished, but He validates our need for acceptance and forgiveness. His love affirms us. Affirm means “to validate or confirm.” This is what we must also be doing this Christmas. We must demonstrate love by giving affirmation to our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors. When we affirm people it gives them a sense of authenticity as human beings.
We must also give people acceptance, no matter who they are in society because it brings a sense of security. Acceptance creates a good foundation for effective relationships. Our acceptance of others tells them that they matter to us, and that they are important.
Christmas should be a time when we appreciate the people in our lives. Appreciation always gives people a sense of significance, and the fact that they are valued. We should take time to appreciate our husbands, wives and kids. Let us also take time to appreciate those who work for us; and also those who have employed us. Christmas should also be the time to show and express affection for one another. God has created all of us with a need for human affection. Affection actually communicates care and helps us connect to one another.
No one ever outgrows the need for affection, because it gives a sense of lovability. Expressing affection to someone through loving words and appreciative actions communicates to them that they are valuable. Surely every expression of loving care will emotionally strengthen someone who may be feeling lonely during the festive season. Let us avail our time and resources to someone needy and lonely this festive season. It will make them feel human and important. While many of us will be celebrating and enjoying ourselves, someone somewhere will be struggling with loneliness and thoughts of suicide. Please listen carefully, you will hear the cry of the unaffirmed, unappreciated, unloved, and lonely people out there, “I am so lonely. I want to be special to someone, but there is no one who cares about me. I can’t remember anyone giving me a loving hug, smiling at me or wanting to spend a moment with me. I feel so lonely and empty inside”
From all the things said about one of the great leaders of our times, Nelson Mandela, I think one can deduce that he was a man who loved and cared for people irrespective of their station in life. Communicating appreciation, encouragement and love to those around us and even people we are not acquainted with this season is a noble thing to do.
Christmas should also be the time that we give not only material gifts to others, but also forgiveness to those who offended or hurt us in one way or the other. First and foremost forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a decision or choice we make that goes beyond what we feel. Walking in hatred and revenge is impotent. It actually corrodes a disposition, elevates high blood pressure, ulcerates a stomach, upsets the digestive system and can finally bring about a nervous breakdown.
I understand that to forgive someone is very costly and not an easy thing to do. Writer Tim Lahaye has clearly put it, “Forgiveness is very costly. It costs you, not the person being forgiven. Forgiveness means that justice will not always be fulfilled. Forgiveness does not rebuild the house that has been burned down by someone carelessly playing with matches. Forgiveness does not always put a broken marriage back together. Forgiveness does not restore virginity to the rape victim.” To forgive is costly.
David Augsburger says, “The man who forgives pays a tremendous price – the price of the evil he forgives.” Forgiveness is usually hard because in forgiveness you bear your own anger and also the sin of the one who has offended you. There is a saying that goes, “Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; avenging an injury makes you even with him; forgiving it sets you above him.”
Therefore the greatest gift you can give this Christmas is forgiveness. It will elevate you to a place where you will have a good view of 2019. The oil of forgiving love will always reduce the friction and salve the irritation and give mobility to the vehicle of your destiny. Be caring enough to love and forgive this Christmas. Love and forgiveness is the grease that reduces relational friction in society, and makes the world a better place to live in.
