Joy Beyond Christmas

I love Christmas. It’s during this period when most of us feel sufficiently philanthropic and equally compassionate. The less fortunate among us will have something to smile about. Perhaps our musicians, politicians, or other public figures shall be the first among the general public and various organizations to initiate the humane call.  What a blessing to feed the hungry, clad the naked, shelter the homeless and more so give hope to the hopeless.

We all have that soft spot in our hearts, to be there for others in their difficult times but we limit our concern to various occasions and the immediate time of need. For instance, we have helped terror attacks, tsunami or hurricane victims but generally on the fateful day or period. Not many of us remember to follow up what become of these victims especially after the news has focused its attention elsewhere. For any of us who may commit to memory, it’s during Christmas time when haggling on whom to help among the disadvantaged in the society.

            Today, I am a voice in the wilderness calling upon everyone of goodwill to extend their open-handed effort across the year. Let us be our brothers and sisters keeper particularly the terminally ill. The ones we are likely to condemn to their fate. Many are the times when we don’t want to be associated with either cancer or HIV/ AIDS victims, but we forget some conditions can befall anyone. Their burden should be our concern too, for their time of need is everyday. No one can claim exemption when sickness come calling; the wealthy and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, the religious and non-believers, the mighty and the feeble can all be victims.

             Being humans, none of us want to contract any disease but waiting in the edge of one that has no cure is even worse. The sick need our devotion and attention thus our worry for their well-being should extend beyond festive seasons.

We all shall surely die but the assurance of an early death is very disheartening. The thought of abandoned expectations, unfulfilled promises to the loved ones, uncertainty of life after death is far much deadly than the tip of a sword. It pierces the optimism of the sick and unless we offer a shoulder for them to lean on, they die dejectedly. So, as we offer food and drinks, lets all remember that there are those who expect much of us, possibly, a word of encouragement, a sign of love and togetherness or even our continued presence in their life throughout the year. Theirs is all about reviving a lost hope and eliminating the stigma that we who are healthy now have subjected them to. We can’t carry their trouble for them but we can surely carry them figuratively by being their strength and making their everyday a Christmas.

May your new year’s resolution include carrying on with your Christmas benevolent actions relentlessly and without any discrimination.