So, we stood on the threshold of 2021, hoping that it would come bearing better things than 2020, and having started with more lockdowns at the beginning of the year, we were more in control of the Coronavirus in 2021 than it us.
We were doing so well, till the variant Omicron came along, threatening to hijack Christmas once again, leaving us wondering when this virus and its variants was all going to end!
Christmas for me is a very important time of the year. It’s the time we celebrate the first visitation of our Lord Jesus, 2000 years ago, as a baby born in the little town of Bethlehem.
Christmas is also an important time of the year for Christians, as we remember that Christ came as the light of the world to illuminate the darkness we live in.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
-John 8:12
He also came to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God; to set those held captive to destructive ways free, reinstate our vision both physical and spiritual. In particular, the vision we hold of who we are in relation to God, which has the power to transform our lives into the original design God intended for us at the beginning.
We still feel goodwill being extended to mankind around this time of the year. A time when we buy gifts for friends and loved ones. We also give to charities and causes we believe in.
The retail industry, however, has commercialised Christmas, a time of the year when shops are at their busiest and we lose the whole meaning of Christmas as we get caught up in all the Christmas shopping hype.
Some children may even believe that Christmas is all about receiving a gift from Santa Claus.
One thing I enjoy doing over the Christmas period is to carve out time to refresh my memory by reading passages from the gospel that pertain to the birth of Christ.
I also like to reflect on the blessings God has done for me throughout the year, and I list them all and thank Him for each one.
Gratitude is a wonderful virtue to have in life towards people who might have contributed to one’s life and to God for giving the ultimate gift of His only Son.
So ending the year with a grateful heart is a way to open your hands to even greater things the next year.
One thing I’m also grateful for is that we are in a better place this year in terms of the Coronavirus than we did last year!
So last year, for many reasons I won’t go into, I did not get to work on my book of poems, after I received the manuscript back from my editor, but I hope to get it out next year. Here’s a poem I wrote for Christmas that I hope blesses you and also the cover of my book of poems, “From Tears To Bubbling Springs” that will be out next year.
Joanne Sojinu Author,
From Tears To Bubbling Springs, A Collection of Poems – Coming soon!