No matter life are small or big in the world as Christmas approaching

One morning Jean watched the programme – Breakfast News, and there was a discussion about people facing financial, entering in the poverty stage, finding it challenging to meet the end with food as Christmas is coming. Readers are not alone, and there are many families with children, families with a disabled child, and a young couple who have the same problems.

The director of the workplace where Jean work emailed about preparing food parcels and Christmas meals for the homeless people, families, reformed gangs/ex-prisoners and low-income families as Christmas is nearing before our workplace close for a holiday. In Hamilton, New Zealand, people live in Level 3-stage 2 due to Delta variants lockdown, and there is uncertainty if our workplace is open to them to enjoy Christmas meals. 

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” – Matthew 6:2

There are broad beans, cabbage, silverbeets and herbs growing in the vegetable garden here. These vegetables will give away to anyone who seeks foods on their table and shares with their children every year. One elderly deaf with CP (Cerebral Palsy) and speech impaired said he gives me half of the vegetable seedlings prices when Jean buys or grow in the garden as a gift and a few vegetables and fruits for vegetables and fruits and other D/deaf people and people with disability. Jean has been growing vegetables and fruits and gave them away to this elderly deaf CP chap, to the Food Parcel Centres, and we keep partially to ourselves here over many years. 

“Christmas is the season of joy, of gift-giving, and of families united.” 

Many Christain, like Jean, know about Jesus the Lord, the Holy Spirit and the Son. Jean knows many non-Christain, atheist people, and of course, people who buy toys and technology for their children, have their family around for the day, not going to the church instead of thinking about Jesus. Jean noticed many young people struggling to buy Christmas presents no matter how much the toys and technology cost them a bomb of prices to pay based on what the children love to get. Yes, of course, the average families struggling as well. These people feel too embarrassed to ask for help, feel shame, and do not want their lives exposed to other family/friends they know and do not know where to ask for help. 

The message of Christmas is that where there is hope, love, light and life, the plan and purpose of God will reach.

“Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day.” “He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” 

We are not the only country facing despair with financial loss, the high price of food, housing shortage, the loss of employment in business and many other issues. Every other country is faring worst than us here, especially in the third countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan. Indeed many people forgot about them and are keen to look in the other direction away from the Third countries. Every aid worker, Doctors without the Borders, Red Cross workers, and World Vision workers work through toil day and night by making indigenous people and children’s lives better in the villages. 

Luke 1: 46-55 “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”