Christmas can mean diverse things to various individuals, depending on where they live, what their religious belief is and what stage of their life they might be in. Children, young people, adults, Christians, atheists, members of other religions, everyone may experience Christmas in their own way.
In rich countries, many can afford elaborate Christmas trees and decorations, do lots of baking and cooking, shopping, wrapping, gifts and festivities. For those without a home, it might be a sad time, when they feel left out of all those celebrations.
In the poor countries, like in Congo, there is not much of a Christmas in this way. A few might use a little plastic tree with simple decorations from the years before and prepare a special meal, but without baking and gifts. The poor might enjoy some meat exceptionally at this cheerful occasion.
In my own life, I have several memories of this special time of the year. When we seven children were small, we had a wonderful time, at home and at church. When we went to church on Christmas, they had a small statue of an African child with a slot where you could drop coins in, which made the figure nod its head, like saying “Thank you!” Little did I know that I would ever go to help Africa in the way I do since 17 years.
One Christmas was a little tragic as when the bell rang and we jubilant children to the living room with the Christmas tree and gifts ran, I tripped over one of my brothers feet and hit my head on a big wooden box which had iron castings around. I hit it with my forehead right on a corner of the box. I remember my parents putting me on the kitchen table and checking my bleeding head. I still have quite a big scar from that.
In my teen years, I lost the joy of Christmas when I lost faith in God. Nevertheless, after many years of stumbling around in spiritual darkness, loneliness and despair, my life changed completely when I was able to experience Gods love in a very deep way. I knew right away that I should pass this love on to those who were searching for it as well.
The following Christmas, 44 years ago, I started out on a new path in my life and over the years, I was telling countless people about God’s love, in many cities, countries and continents. Christmas was always a highlight as that is the time when it is easiest to talk about Jesus and why He came to earth.
Over 20 years ago, I started to go to Christmas markets all over Germany and enjoyed a terrific time, raising support for our projects first in East Europe and then in Africa with the help of inspiring Christmas CDs and calendars. During these four weeks, for many years, I met wonderful friends and our friendship grew until today. As cold as it was to go from stand to stand and city to city, it was one of the best times of my life. I love this atmosphere and the travelling fairground people, always travelling and on the move, getting to know new people and meeting old acquaintances, like myself.
Christmas for me means sharing God’s love and joy with everybody I meet, not just on Christmas, but all year round. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas, a happy time with family and friends; that you can make others happy and receive joy in return; some time of rest and refilling, thinking about the Man who started it all, when He was born in a barn; leaving His heavenly home, having no earthly home; changing the world more than any man on earth ever did. If you do not know Him personally yet, you can just ask Him into your heart and life and be filled with His amazing love, which can change your life like He did mine.
Copyright © 2017 Aktive Direkt Hilfe e. V.
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His Life
He was born on the dirty floor of a barn. Until the age of 30, He was a carpenter like His earthly father. However, His heavenly Father needed Him for another job that only He could do.
When the time came for Him to begin His life’s work, He went about everywhere doing good—helping people, caring for children, healing heartaches, strengthening tired bodies, and saving all who believed in Him. He not only preached His message, but He lived it amongst the people. He ministered not only to people’s spiritual needs, but He also spent a great deal of time tending to their physical and material needs, miraculously healing them when they were sick and feeding them when they were hungry, all the while sharing His life and His love.
His religion was so simple that He said you must become as a little child to receive it. He did not advise people to perform complicated ceremonies or keep difficult rules. All He did was teach love and show love as He strove to lead God’s children into the true Kingdom of God, where the only laws are to “love God with all your heart” and “love others as yourself.”
God is a Spirit. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere and in everything—far beyond our limited human comprehension. So, He sent Jesus, in the form of a man, so we can better understand and relate to God.
Copyright © 2009 Activated