Dear Letter to the Editor:
Let Us Not Forget the True Meaning of Christmas©
(Please hum these words.)
This is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time when we tend to hum and smile a little more. The feelings of Thanksgiving are still with us, as we count our blessings of this year. As Americans, we are reflecting on COVID-19 with the rest of the world as we try to stay ahead of each variant in our determination to vaccinate everyone to avoid shutdowns and deaths.
There are so many things running through our minds as we prepare for this holiday, and year-end closure. Some of us are unemployed, homeless and have lost everything; a family member may be in the hospital or not feeling to well; or a dear one has been shipped out for military duty. Some of us will do our last minute shopping, as we check our lists to make sure we got everyone a gift. We may even have second thoughts about a person or two. However, this year it is different. That one person, who has always been there for every holiday, is no longer with us. Tears of remembrance rolls down the side of our face. We look through family photographs and memories of Christmas past, and still look forward to being with family and friends. We think about the sweet aroma of those special meals and desserts, which are usually prepared, and look at the extra pounds we have put on since Thanksgiving. We smile. It is all good, and it is the most wonderful time of the year.
This year as we come closer to December 25, we begin to understand and appreciate what this day is truly all about. We pause and ask ourselves . . . what is the true meaning of Christmas?
To some it’s another day off from work. For others, it is a very special time, which we share, our love with our family and friends and gives our very best. It is a time that we celebrate the love of God, who gave His only begotten Son . . . just for us.
It is Jesus’ birthday. The Son of the Living God. The Wonderful Counselor. The King of Kings. The Prince of Peace. The Good Shepherd. He was born in a manger because there was no room in the inn, to a young virgin woman. Three wise men from three different countries followed a star for one year to come to a little village in Bethlehem in Judea to worship the birth of our Lord and Savior. They brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. A time planned before the beginning of creation to save each and every one of us, so that we could have life more abundantly. It was promised, through His birth, death, and resurrection, that whosoever should believe that Jesus is Lord will have everlasting life.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is a time of miracles and blessings, a time of love, forgiveness, restoration, peace, joy, and goodwill toward all men. It is a time when we humble ourselves before God and thank Him for His precious gift . . . His Son Jesus Christ.
If it had not been for the love of God through His Son, where would we be? How could we live a day without Him? How could we take the most precious day of the year, and not honor the One whose birthday it is? And all that He asks of us according to Matthew 6:33 is “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
On Saturday, December 25, 2021, let us remember whose birthday we are celebrating, by putting Him first. Let’s take time out to share Jesus birth story (Luke 2:1-21) with family and friends, as we lift His name up in love, telling others how great He is, while celebrating the mercy of God in our personal life this holiday. What a precious gift!
May the God of peace richly bless us, as we humble ourselves and honor His Son this Christmas day in America.
Merry Christmas!
All . . .
For the Glory of God,
Valerie Foy
The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American • 145 W. Ostend Street Ste 600, Office #536, Baltimore, MD 21230 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com
Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members! Join here!
The post Letter to the Editor: This Christmas appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .
