Written by Prem Bahadur Subba
I would like to share a real story that took place in Manipur, a northeastern state in India. There lived a man in a village who never gave away anything to anybody including his own parents, but was used to taking things from others.
One day during the rainy season he was swept away by the flooded river nearby his village. Knowing this, many villagers came to rescue him. He was crying for help saying, ‘Save me!’. Over time, villagers scattered along the riverside. They told him to give his hand to any one of them so that he could be pulled out and rescued. But as he never gave away anything, that day too, he did not give his hand to them.
A kind elderly man from the same village knew about him and his habits. He wanted to rescue him like others. However his first few attempts were not successful. Finally, he said to the drowning man, ‘If you don’t want to give your hand take my hand instead.’ Immediately the drowning man took his hand. He was then pulled out of the sweeping river and rescued.
Love, mercy and kindness can do anything and find solutions even in the face of difficulties. Love and mercy sees possibility in the face of impossibility. Difficult situations and difficult people can be tackled!
Christmas also gives us the same message of mercy and love of God. Though human kind did not deserve, yet God gave his only son to rescue us from sins. This is the amazing love of God and love of Jesus. God himself took the human form and delivered us from our sinful lives. This season is much more than a traditional festival. It has a meaning. Let us reciprocate God’s love by giving our gifts given by God to others through sharing of our skills, talents, energy, time, cash and kinds with the needy and helpless as God gave his son to us.
The birth of Christ has made a difference, but it doesn’t mean we will have a trouble-free life. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” But then He added, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn.16: 33). Because Christ’s presence and power is within us, we can triumph over trials. That is grounds for good cheer!
Instead of being overwhelmed by trials, we can face them confidently because Christ does make a difference. Jesus said that we will have trouble in this world so filled with sin, but we need not be discouraged. He will give peace and joy within.
We will not be defeated by anything if we depend on Christ for everything.
John: 3:16-17, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Republished in new layout on 8/13/2013
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