Hey guys, Kunle
came around from Australia to visit and we had a wonderful time. Before we
parted, I gave him a notepad and a pen to write down a Christmas message for
y’all, our readers on Temi’s Race and he did. So this piece is from Kunle &
I. By the way, it has been a great year writing for this blog this year and I’m
very grateful to you for taking out time to read, make comments, share and even
send personal encouraging messages. I appreciate you all.
So, this Christmas,
I chose to run away from the hustle and bustle of Port Harcourt (the city where
I live and work) to a very serene environment where my parents live. There’s
not a lot of noise about Christmas here, but I must say I’ve had a really great
time resting, reading, eating, and meeting a few very nice people, some of whom
I joined for prison evangelism last Friday.
The
requirements to go along for the female prison visit were simple: bring along
some [specified] gifts for the inmates, come with a valid identity card, and be
at the bus stop for 7:30AM wearing a Christmas hat. I was fine with all the
requirements except for the “wear a Christmas hat” part. Even though I love
Christmas very much, I hate Christmas costumes [-apologies to all the Christmas
costume lovers; they are cute, but not just for me]. I struggled so much with
that part that I even thought that N600 (less than $3) for two Christmas hats
(one for my sister) was too much. Crazy, I know. Hehe… Despite all my silent tantrums, I
succumbed and got the Christmas hat and I wore it to the prison visit the
following day. After our leader had shared the message of Christ’s love and
hope to the inmates and we were about to take our leave, a few of the inmates
approached us to request that we give them our Christmas hats. Of all the
things we took along with us to them, the only thing that got them really
excited was the Christmas hats. Of course, I was too happy to let mine go. Not particularly
because I hated it, but because it made someone smile. I still remember the
cheer on her face when she looked at me a short distance away and mouthed,
“Thank You”.
Christmas for
so many around the world is a season for celebration. Mothers are excited about
their turkeys; kids, snowman; and some others, lights and fireworks. I love all
these things myself. But Christmas has only one reason and that is JESUS. And
for Him, since His mission was to save man, the best way He’d like us to
celebrate Christmas is by telling people about Him, giving to the poor,
visiting the imprisoned, and showing kindness to the homeless and love to the
orphans.
This Christmas, we (Kunle & I) encourage you to take a step out of yourself
and those lovely gifts you got and just share some love. Share
your food with a homeless person, give a Christmas hat to someone you know may
not be able to afford one, sow a Bible or devotional into the lives of the
lost, tell people about Jesus. He’s the reason for this season and without Him,
everything you do at this time really means nothing.
Thankfully,
I’ve had another opportunity to sow into another prison visit this Christmas
and also participate in a neighborhood
outreach. I hope y’all can find a way to reach out with Jesus’ love too.
DO HAVE A MERRY
CHRISTMAS.
Hey… I’m gonna
leave you here with the Jackson 5’s rendition of “Give Love on Christmas Day”. Enjoy it!
