Every year around the world, people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, 25 December. It's a day – and season – filled with Christmas carols, tree decorating, gift-giving and parties. The good news of Christmas is that even when the world or our circumstances change – the message of Christmas is timeless because Christmas is about the birth of God’s Son – Jesus Christ. It is about how he came to give us love, hope and joy. That message doesn’t change from year to year.
Around Christmas time, angels feature prominently. They adorn treetops and Christmas cards, and have starring roles in Christmas carols and plays. That’s because angels were God’s messengers to share the good news of Jesus’ birth to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds.
The angel Gabriel first appeared to a young woman called Mary. He told her that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus - that is, she would give birth to the Son of God. “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus,” the angel said (Luke 1:30-31).
Mary was unmarried but engaged to Joseph. To be pregnant is out of wedlock would have been scandalous. But the angel assured Mary of God’s love for her and his good plans for her. Mary acknowledged this and was grateful for the blessing of being the mother of Jesus. She sang, “all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).
Furthermore, when the time came for Mary to give birth to Jesus, she had to travel to Bethlehem for a census. The census meant the town was very busy and there were no guest rooms available for Mary and Joseph. So, she gave birth in what was probably a stable or barn, and lay Jesus down in a manger (an animal feeding trough). There was no royal welcome in a palace for Jesus, the Son of God. Instead, on the night of his birth, he was sleeping rough. He was probably surrounded by animals – not royal attendants.
Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), is another name for Jesus. His birth and life is a message of good news for us because it means we are never alone.
This is an opportunity to pause and give thanks for the love, hope and joy found in Jesus – our Saviour and friend. As we exchange gifts with loved ones, it is out of remembrance of the gift God gave us in Jesus. The gift that we are loved, are never alone and can have hope for the future. After Jesus was born, a small group of wise men visited him. They recognised the kingship of Jesus and they “worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).
It is pertinent to share our gifts to people around us and beyond because the Bible says, give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38 KJV.
The best or most appreciated Christmas gift I had given to someone is what I tagged “FUTURE GIFT.” This future gift is being appreciated throughout the lifetime of that young man. It happened that during Christmas I went visiting families and friends, sharing spiritual (prayers) and physical (food items etc,) gifts to people around me and beyond. But that Christmas was a unique and memorable one that transformed the life of a young boy who lost his father on a ghastly motor accident.
After the death of the parent the boy could no longer continue his education. He was just entering Junior Secondary 2. There was nobody to take care of this boy or to encourage him to continue his education. It was so pathetic that I was moved when I heard the whole story on how his father’s family collected all the man’s belonging from his wife. They just came after two weeks of the burial and claim all the properties including the house that the man built. They drove away the wife and the son.
Nevertheless, they accused the wife of being responsible for their brother’s death. Before the man was buried, the family of the deceased bath the dead body and gave the wife to drink and swear if she had hand in the death of their son, she would die but if not she would live. During the burial, the woman was ordered to cross the coffin and swear as well, which she did. But the woman did not die as they expected. They later thought that the woman might have had a strong power that keeps her alive. So, they decided to dislodge the woman. She went back to her father’s house .
So, I was moved to hear this sad story and decided to train the boy to Masters level. The boy is so brilliant. He got all his subjects distinctions and entered the university of his choice.
To my utmost surprise, the boy becomes a Surgeon in a Federal Teaching Hospital in this Nigeria. He called me on a Christmas day to appreciate my kind gesture towards him and family generally. Guess what, he came to my house with his mother, after entertaining them, he took me to a house that he built for his mother. The boy presented a very costly hand phone to me. I didn’t want to collect the gift from him but he prostrated, with his mother kneeling down to present the gift to me. Well, I accepted it and prayed for him and his mother.
According to him, he said that, this is just the beginning of reaping the fruits of my labour because if I didn’t take that bold step, he would have either become vagabond of joined gang that will end his life in sorrow. He really appreciated me and I likewise appreciated him for the gift. In fact, that phone is what I’m still using. It’s good to be good. You can't believe that his uncles are coming to apologize to him. I’m very grateful to the boy and his mother because if he didn’t accept to go return to school, there’s nothing I could do.
Thanks for reading.