Dear Editor,
We have just celebrated one of the most joyful times of the year, which is called Christmas. Although Christ was not born on the 25th of December, that particular day has been set apart to celebrate in remembrance the birth of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, who was sent by God into this world, according to the holy biblical scriptures, to save the entire human race. But today in our age and time over the years, the true meaning of this day has greatly dwindled from our minds. Man has lost the meaning of this most important season.
Most of us celebrate “Christmas,” but we have left Christ out of the picture. We have become more interested in the gift, and not the giver of the gift. We wish each other a Merry Christmas as we shake hands – even the unbelievers do it – but our understanding of Jesus as our saviour is yet afar off.
In the book of Matthew taken from the bible, Jesus gives a parable about the husbandmen, who failed to read the scriptures as to understand the coming of the saviour. When God sent His son Jesus instead of accepting Him, they slew him. In the first section of verse 42 of that same chapter, Jesus says to them: “Did ye never read in the scriptures?”
Today we are a generation of people who live in a fast moving world, where we get so caught up in the rush, greed, and concern for making it in our society, that we don’t have, or take the time to read or study the scriptures to understand the meaning of times and holy seasons.
In my younger years growing up as a child, I can recall that from the month of October, Christmas carols were already filling the air. There was a change in the atmosphere leading up to the Christmas season. It was like something sacred filled the air. As children, we taught about the toys, Santa Claus, sweet puddings and tarts. For the adults or grown-ups, it was remembering the sacred glad tidings of the birth of Jesus as the saviour.
The early morning church services would be filled with young and old. And neighbours, friends and relatives would greet each other with the blessings that Christmas brings. The change in society over the years, our falling away from the word of God, and the way we now bring up our children, have greatly affected the way we now celebrate Christmas.
Christmas today has become a pure commercial festivity. For the consumer, it’s about what all we can or will be able to buy, once we receive our early December pay checks. For the business people, it’s about what all and how much can be sold to make a big profit. For the children today, it’s n longer about toys, but about the latest cell phones, and expensive electronic games. Santa Clause today, because of this generation, has become “unemployed.” It’s just a thing of the past.
The business people are smiling, because it’s their opportunity to organize various shopping sprees, as to rake and scrape as much dollars as they can from the consumers, who are brought up in a material world. For the doctors on the other hand, it’s an additional bonus, as their offices and clinics will be full on the first work day after the festive holidays, to treat the many sick patients, who need a medical fix, because they have indulged in too much food and drink.
For many, Christmas today has become a time of gluttony, indulgence, and greed. For some it has become a drunken party, where they become so disoriented and intoxicated, that they can’t even stand on their feet, or need to be lead to their homes, because they can’t find, or remember their door steps, even drive their own vehicles.
I have always wondered why God never gave us the birth date of His son Jesus. I believe that God already knew how mankind would disrespect this sacred day. Taken from the bible, when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey on what we call Palm Sunday, the people were celebrating and praising Him as the coming Messiah to liberate them from their enemies. But they failed to understand again through the scriptures, that Jesus was coming to establish a spiritual kingdom and to save mankind from their sins.
Because of their misunderstandings, which would lead up to their judgement as the scriptures say, He wept. Over two thousand years have passed, and man has not change. I believe Christ is still weeping today for a lost generation. The day will come when we all will have to give an account.
Name withheld at author’s request.
Dear Editor,
In the vicinities of Saunders, Betty’s Estate and St Peters; fireworks have been used for the last two weeks. Today [Friday – Ed.] the fireworks noise started since 4:00 pm. Dogs and probably other pets are scared to dead.
I just wonder why people are authorized to import and sell these dangerous products. It’s allowed for a couple of hours at Christmas or New Year’s Eve. It’s 10:40 pm and we are still hearing the noise.
We understand the happiness those colourful lights bring to most people, but they should be used for fun only for special events, not any day at any time.
Is there any authority to take this issue seriously?
Name withheld at author's request.
Time to reflect! Let’s reflect on the true meaning on what the Christmas celebration means to most of us here in St. Maarten. Over the years, we have seen St. Maarten’s celebration of the Christmas season catapult like all celebrations over the world, and it has become nothing more than a big commercial activity.
Dear Editor,
At times, choosing the person of the year could be a challenging enterprise, while on other occasions it does not need much probing, because the evidence is crystal clear. But what is it that really determines who gets this title? Most likely, it depends on where the focus is directed.
Dear Editor,
Unfortunately, the Christmas spirit seems to have departed, for senior citizens, that is. It’s just another day; by afternoon we have already forgotten that it’s ‘still’ Christmas. For all of us, whether young or not so young, it’s a day of overindulgence in the foods we enjoy; turkey, ham, potato-pudding and all kinds of tarts. All sugary dainties we know are not good for us, nevertheless, we devour them without any scruples.
A challenging day for diabetics. Keep an eye on the diabetic in your family; we eat and drink too much of the forbidden stuff and have to increase our daily dosage of insulin.
For children, it’s definitely the most exciting time of the year. Our children start making their lists for Santa at least three weeks before Christmas. My daughter would list a couple of items which included ‘money,’ write down a couple more items, followed by ‘more money.’
I used to tell my children on Christmas Eve: Remember, we don’t have a chimney, so make sure your mother does not lock the front door tonight. If she does, Santa won’t be able to get into the house with your gifts. “Mom, do NOT lock the door!” Before going to bed, they would check the door two or three times to ensure it was unlocked.
Knowing the excitement would keep them up until late, I would tell them, if you hear any sounds in the house during the night, be very, very quiet, pretend to be asleep, it’s Santa putting your gifts under the tree.”
On Christmas morning they would get up earlier than any other morning of the year, wake up their siblings, and not walk, but run toward the Christmas tree. They would let out several big wows on seeing all the colourful gifts under the tree and promptly start reading the name on each gift. The happiness and excitement on their faces were oh so precious.
Merry Christmas hugs and kisses for Mom and Dad had to wait until the excitement had died down somewhat. The following day they would want to visit their uncles and aunties, because Santa usually left gifts under their trees too.
You know that someday you will have to tell them that Mom and Dad are the real Mr. and Mrs. Clause. You worry that when that day comes, they might be disappointed, and even think that Mom and Dad have lied to us all these years. In my case, (it’s always the father’s job to confirm the non-existence of Santa) when that day came, their immediate reaction was: “We know that, Dad!”
New Year’s Eve is a different ballgame altogether when it comes to your teenagers. An acquaintance once told me, “I thought my mother was so stupid for staying up all night worrying and not going to sleep until my sisters and I got home in the wee hours of the morning. But now that I am a mother of teenagers, I know what she went through.”
You allow your teenagers to go out and have fun with their friends, and you give them a no-later-than time to be home, which they always try to extend. “But, Dad, my friends stay out much later than that”
Knowing there are many drunken drivers on the road on the last night of the year, and that there are predators lurking out there, you, as a concerned parent, cannot help but worry.
You breathe a sigh of relief and utter a thank You, Jesus, when you finally hear the front door open and their footsteps are quietly leading to their rooms. Only after this, you sleep like a baby!
To all my readers: Merry CHRISTmas and may the Lord grant you a blessed, safe and prosperous New Year. God bless you all!
Clive Hodge
