Happy last days of the year 2025 to you, dearly-treasured tribe member of the TMAR clan!🤗 Trust me, I thought of how best to greet you after taking the back seat for a while and coming back with a guilty face and hands raised in a “guilty as charged” manner, but I couldn’t find the right words. But there are so many things I’m grateful about as I type this, one of which is the fact that I’m alive and well enough to write, and you’re also hale and healthy enough to read through.
No, I’m not yet done with that gratitude note! But first, I’d love to say a huge ‘Compliments of the season’ to you and everyone that you hold so dear. I trust that you’ve been having a great time celebrating with family and friends, extending love to people, expressing gratitude for 2025, sponsored by deep moments of reflection and introspection, and anticipating the goodness that 2026 has to offer. In case you haven’t been doing that at all or as much as you should, it’s fine, there’s still some time left. So, I implore you to get down to it right away! These are great memories that should go into the New Year with you.
I’ll just put this out right now; this isn’t my final note for the year! I still have one more post to release before the year runs out, but I just thought to let this go forward first. I almost gave up writing this particular one because it was actually meant for Christmas, but seeing as it’s coming 3 days after, I initially thought there was no point releasing it anymore.
However, I realized that the essence of Christmas goes beyond the glamour and celebration galore that happens on the 25th of December or the days leading up to it. It carries weight and value for every single day we live, and even when we exit this world, which is why I decided to eventually put out the post. Having said all that, my dearest tribe member, I bring to you the post titled ‘THE REAL CHRISTMAS DEAL’.
Let’s take a minute to travel back in time together. The Christmas season has always held great memories for many people right from childhood, beginning with the earnest anticipation of new clothes and shoes to be added to our collection, the bling decorations that light up the homes and hum a nice tune non-stop, the adorned Christmas trees, the carols and participating in stage plays, official holidays for the season, reuniting with our old friends and families, exchange of food and gifts, receiving cash gifts from Big Uncles and Aunties, the huge portions of food and assorted meats, and many more things that you can possibly recount right now.
But as we grew in years and in the faith, we began to attach more importance and meaning to this season than just the surface celebrations. We started to see the true reason for the celebration. It isn’t just another holiday or a means of taking a break from work or school, getting a chance to travel and reunite with family, or showering one another with gifts. Even though all these in and of themselves are not bad and they are events that come with the season, they would only become a waste of time or an unfruitful adventure if we fail to acknowledge and identify with the reason for the season.
As we keep up the Christmas spirit and carry our excitement and anticipation into the New Year, here’s something I want you to travel with for the rest of your life, indeed into your old and grey hairs, and I pray that you would pass the same legacy over to your children- JESUS CHRIST IS INDEED THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! I just had to put that in all-capital letters.
If anyone asks you what exactly the big deal about Christmas is, like why are we so loud and giddy whenever December approaches and we smell Christmas in the air? Well, here, you have the answer, and you can graciously speak to them about this answer! The big deal is the birthday celebrant Himself as we would often refer to Jesus in this season, and the ultimate gift that He has given to us forever, which is the gift of Himself.
He is the reason we are celebrating! Thus, every other activity should revolve around Him and be done with the consciousness that the celebration is all about Him, who He represents to us (the perfect born-saviour), and what He came to do (rescue us, save us from death, and give us life and life eternal).
We celebrate because Christmas is a real experience to us, and we see the intentionality and love of God in action, the love of a real Saviour who came into a real world to save a real people. It isn’t some fairy tale or tales by moonlight, it’s a true experience that still lives with us till today. He demonstrated His love for us by coming into our imperfect world through a lineage of people who though they had their flaws, yet obtained favour, grace, and mercy, some of whose names He is called when He is being eulogized.
His birth was such a joy to the world that even the Heavenly host rejoiced and declared “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”. These heavenly beings could not even keep the good news to themselves, they had to appear to the Shepherds who were watching their flock to share the amazing news with them.
We celebrate because we see the efficacy of what Christ came to the world to do thousands of years ago even till today. His birth and assignment on earth marked the beginning of liberation for as many who would gladly come into the light He has brought, and His atoning death, resurrection, and ascension have given us the assurance of life that transcends this realm. We celebrate because of the surpassing joy that we have in Him.
Therefore, it is important that we do not allow the festivities and other highlights to overshadow the true essence and the message of the season which is Jesus Christ Himself. We must always shout about Him as loud as we can, through every medium that we can access, and on every platform that we stand. We must not allow the narrative and the attention to be shifted away from the birthday celebrant.
Remember, He is the reason we are celebrating in the first place. He is the one who has gathered us to this banquet of celebrations and love by first demonstrating His love towards us. Ideally, in all birthday celebrations, all eyes and focus should be on the celebrant and how to make the day a memorable one for him or her. It’s high time we approached the season and indeed every other day we live with that same mindset; the mindset that we want to make our Saviour happy with our words, thoughts, and actions.
A way we can start to effectively carry out that mission as we reach out to people with gifts and love in this period is to present the ultimate gift that we ourselves have received to them. Therefore, in this season, give someone the gift of sharing the good news about Jesus and what He came to do for them. Let them know that He is the best gift that they can ever receive as every other gift would pass away with time.
He is the only one who would remain when every other ephemeral thing fades. And like those Shepherds who also could not keep the news to themselves after the Angels rejoiced about the birth of the Saviour in Luke 2:8-18, we also should share the good news with other people. This is one of the ways that we truly spread love during Christmas and in every other season.
Another way to have an impact-filled celebration is to reach out to those people who need support in one form or the other; physically, emotionally, financially, and in all forms. Let these people know that they are seen, loved, valued, and are a significant part of the celebration. Remember, these are also men, women, and children that Christ came into the world for. The good news is for everyone!
Therefore, everyone must be involved and must experience the love, joy, and peace that the season brings. Therefore, if you haven’t done so, you can still put a big smile on someone’s face this season, and ensure to make that an everytime practice. Be the reason someone finds hope once again!
The last thing I would mention is to ensure that as you bask in the joy of the season, you do not lose yourself and what/who you truly believe in and stand for. Never engage in activities that are questionable or bring shame to the name of the Celebrant, the very Saviour you profess and claim to celebrate. Let all that you do and say give Him glory and joy, and also draw others to see His light.
It was worthwhile writing this, and I’m glad I did not eventually keep it just in my thoughts, I got to share it with you. Kindly give someone the gift of sharing with them as well, and let them know that this is a truth to hold on to every single day, and not just during Christmas. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance! I’ll see you again before the end of 2025!💃✍️
