http://www.newsportng.com.ng Nigerians have been urged not to lose hope despite challenges, but to maintain the high spirit of Christmas, celebrating with one another in unity and love.
The CAN Chairman Kaduna state, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, made the appeal in his Christmas message on Saturday, said hope, sacrifice and love are the major essence of Christmas and as such, Christians must imbibe the spirit of love for a prosperous and better society.
Hayab who is also the Country’s Director, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, (GPFN) said Nigeria is in dare need of kind-hearted people, adding that the nation is dealing with series of hard times where regression, starvation, ill- health among other negative occurrences is in other of the day.
While calling on leaders to teach people on the importance of giving during Christmas, he maintained that Yuletide is a season of deep reflection, living the exemplary life of Christ who laid down His life for mankind.
Hayab said, “A time like this calls us to a deeper reflection on the message of the season. The birth of Christ is the ultimate gift ever given in the existence of the world. It is a symbolic gift that aims at exemplifying to us believers the importance of giving and the fact that there is absolutely no limit or boundaries to giving.
The major theme of Christmas is “Giving” not just giving but selfless giving which is why we see, Christ was gifted effortlessly to the womb that conceived him, when he came, he was birthed in an inn that was not paid for, freely did the wise men from the east took the journey to the place of the blessed birth, for nothing but to give him gifts, royal, priestly and prophetic gifts.
“Even during his ministry he feed people from bread and fish gotten freely, and he ended his life as a free gift for the salvation of mankind. Indeed it will not be far fetched to say, “giving is the reason for the season.
“Our nation Nigeria today is dealing with the toughest of all times, things seem to be moving in regression, we do not seem to be growing as a nation, daily people die out of starvation, ill-health, poverty to mention but these.
“The fact is that our nation Nigeria is
in dare need of kind hearted citizens who are willing to give their all for the survival of the nation and people. There is no better time that this nation ever needed the show of
kindness than this material time.
“The act of giving is not only for the old or young, rich or poor, mighty or lowly, no. As long as we are alive, we have what someone needs to gain hope again.
“In the biblical story of Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man was
not condmened because he was rich, no, he was condemned because he had more than enough to give but he watch poor Lazarus suffer starvation. Someone just need a meal, a kind word, a hug, a smile, a little amount of money e.t.c to have hope in life again.
“This season calls us to attend to these needs of others. Brethren, we are not blessed by the amount that we give, we are blessed by the quality of our gift, a gift should be given in love with the sole purpose of meeting the needs of others.
“This is an attitude parents should teach their children from their childhood as scripture says, when we train a child, he will grow and not depart from the right path. This is a call to action not words, parents should provide for their children and guide them to picking what have been provided for them to give other people around them that are in need.” He said
He also applauded one Hajiya Ramatu Tijani, a Muslim woman who was said to be distributing food stuff to Christian widows in Kaduna state, noting that the gesture shows that there are non Christians who understands the true meaning of
the season.
He called on those who are privileged to emulate Hajiya Ramatu “who
contributed her quota to building a peaceful, and loving nation that we both so desire, because good will come to those who are generous, lend freely and who conduct their affairs with justice”.
