Editor,
Hello December, the last month of the year – the curtain closure of the year. It’s the season to be jolly because the holidays are here again, that time of the year where we are all waiting for, the crisp, the cold hands but warm hearts; it’s time to indulge in a little festive food, partake in some carolling, perhaps, and maybe even keep a keen eye out for the arrival of Santa Claus and the array of presents many children, young and old, hope that he has with their names on them. Christmas is never good without the children.
But let’s take a pause and reflect on what Christmas is all about? Is it just the Christmas Trees, the glitters, the decorations, the presents and all the commercialisation that come along with it? Or is there something else?
Yes, it’s the season where we remember and revere the birth of Jesus Christ – the Saviour, the Messenger of Hope, Love and Grace. “Amazing Grace Indeed”.
John Newton the renowned poet and writer of this beautiful hymn thinks so highly of Grace that he labels it: “The underserved mercy and favour of God to the world.” As Christmas moves ever closer, grateful choirs will sing how God’s grace is Christmas’ most amazing gift:
“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.”
Like John Newton, all Christ’s followers journey forward with encouragement from the words of this popular hymn. The gift of grace evokes the Holy Spirit, the faithfulness of God’s love, and Jesus’ guiding light with each step we take and surrounds us with God’s promise to protect us. It highlights our compassionate God’s bountiful love for His unpredictable creation often oblivious to His Grace.
As much grace that God has given to us, is there something we can do for others to show them the love and the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And while many of us count the days until this time of year rolls around again, for others in the community, the season is anything but holly jolly. Each and every year we hear the pleas from charities and churches about the need for both donations and volunteers to help make the season bright for the less fortunate among us.
It’s all too easy to get swept up in the annual excess and the seemingly never-ending to-do list each of us has, but, if we’re able, we should try and take even a moment out of our hectic schedules to do our part to help ensure that others can also have a reason to celebrate the holidays.
Although a small gesture, donating a few non-perishable goods to the local churches or volunteering bodies or making a small donation to a nonprofit organisation helping the less fortunate may not seem to have that much of an impact, but if enough of us do it, it can make a big difference to others in our community.
By all means, enjoy spending time with your friends and family over the course of this festive season; just don’t forget that not everyone has reason to feel joyful without some assistance. If we can all pitch in, even a little bit, maybe we can make sure another family has a Merrier Christmas or a happier holiday and a more prosperous new year.
The countdown is on, but there’s still time to be generous to others. You’ll be glad you did.
Lastly to quote from Milton’s Masterpiece,
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.”
The Christmas story is forever the story of grace. And so, I take this time to wish each and everyone a very Happy Holiday Season and a Merry Christmas – A time of serious thankfulness to God for His Amazing Grace: the Greatest Gift of All!
Chanmiki Laloo
Shillong-02
