Indulge in the Festive Season with Moderation.
The festive season is one period people look forward to, both young and old, with a lot of anticipation. It is a time when people indulge in excesses as a way of reminiscing about the yearly ups and downs of life in preparation for yet another cycle at the beginning of the new year. Unfortunately, some people go to the extremes.
There is a pact that decides to enjoy the season in its truest meaning. They drink themselves foolishly, others squander and ponder their savings in the pleasure of the moment while others take it as the moment of showing off their lifestyle and how much they have done well throughout the year.
Given that those enjoying the trappings of these festive successes get lost in the maze, and of course, it is understandable since people love to enjoy themselves crazy, I am left to blow the trumpet of reason to those who may forget that this is just but a season. There is a whole life ahead and the year will be beginning in a few days and with it comes its demands.
When I speak about the festive season, I mean both Christmas and the New Year. In my wildest thinking, I have never been excited about Christmas as the birthday of Jesus, since by all means it is or could be a wrong date first but rather, I am simply content that He came and accomplished something far more worthy to be celebrated than His birth; the salvation of mankind.
For the ardent believers in the birthday theory, don’t get it wrong that you shouldn’t celebrate. You have all the right to celebrate what you believe in, but perhaps it is high time we looked far deeper into the whole rationale of His birth rather than He was simply born.
That said, I am glad for those who go out of their way to go out and celebrate and share with the less fortunate. But again, as long as it is not a ‘festive period thing’ only. It is more prudent to exercise charity all year round. That way we reveal the character of the one whose birthday we cherish. Then, you realize, we go beyond celebrating the birth and go into the influence he had in humanity through the ages by redefining human belief and behaviour.
If there is one thing that amazes me the most, it is the interdenominational unity regarding Christmas. It is interesting how Christmas is Christmas in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and America and across the globe as well as for protestants and non-protestants alike. How great could that moment and singleness of celebration be carried on throughout the year?
We indulge in the celebration, either knowingly or unknowingly, of Christmas with some kind of unanimous agreement of the birth of a Christ but in whom we perceive to be different depending on what gets inoculated into us as grow up. And the latter is what we carry throughout the year as we look forward to the next festivities.
The same is also said for the new year festive. Except for the Ethiopian Calendar in which they celebrate the new year on September 11th, the rest of the world seems to agree that January 1st marks the beginning of a new year. And so, we celebrate in agreement with that and that is it. When we want war, we forget we are ever the same and that unknowing perhaps share in the same ideals.
Why could that be so? Perhaps overindulgence during the festivities makes us forget some crucial lessons. And not only that, other people also blow up all their money in the heat of that moment. They decide to live falsely for that moment and once it is over, they have to start again at ground zero. Getting lost in the race to make money, sometimes reason and virtue get lost into oblivion.
Word of counsel though, if we have more than enough, let’s share with others. If we are struggling, let us remember that, always. Let’s have the spoils that we can manage. And if we have too little, we can be content with that too. If we don’t have any at all, reach out to those who can help. I am sure there are still good souls out here who can lighten up our faces.
Last and most importantly, always remember that the choices of whatever we choose to indulge in during this period have to be borne by us. It won’t matter if we were sober or devoid of reason at the time of action, consequences will always be consequences. To be safe, put moderation in front of you this festive season.
From all of us here at the Daily Focus, we thank you for your continued support and wish you a happy festive season in 2023.
