Dear Readers:

Through the years, Christmas Day has become commercialized. Gift-giving and receiving gifts have become the norm. Many times, people don’t appreciate the gifts they receive. I came from a poor background, so I appreciate everything nice folks do for me. When I was growing up, I would line up with other impoverished children at the police station to receive a paper sack filled with candies and a toy.

Today I celebrate God’s promise to us that He would send his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to save us from ourselves. I am no saint, but there are times when I definitely feel depressed and wonder how I am going to cope with fibromyalgia, a broken foot, and spinal column pain. With time, the broken foot will repair, but fibromyalgia and my spinal column pain are forever. Nevertheless, God has given me the strength to cope with these illnesses and others. Faith in the Lord keeps me going. If it weren’t for Him, I wouldn’t be writing and doing other things that healthy people are able to do.

Therefore, I tell myself that today is the perfect day to recall that Jesus suffered more than I have. Jesus endured all sorts of suffering since He was born. Our Saviour was born in a stable that I imagine was not very warm. Jesus’s birth reminds me of my childhood home, a brick house that I suspect was built in 1905. I was born in that house, I suppose, with the help of a midwife. During the winter months, our family tried to warm up the large rooms with old gas heaters that had to be turned off at night to protect the family from a fire, but Jesus didn’t have a space heater when He was born.

And towards the end of His life, Jesus suffered verbal abuse and physical torture. I broke my left foot about nine days ago. I twisted my foot when I fell on the hardwood floor in my bedroom. The pain was excruciating, but I am sure that it did not compare to the pain that Jesus suffered on the way to His final destination, been nailed to a wooden cross. I can only imagine how that must have felt. Today we celebrate his birthday, but we must remember that He chose to be born, even though He knew what was going to happen to Him. Why did he do this? The answer is simple. He loves us. And He will always be doing things for us if we just learn to love Him. So, don’t forget to thank Him for all that He has done for us. Merry Christmas!