Where there is love, kindness will prevail; where there is kindness, there will always be forgiveness.
This is one of my unpublished quotes.
I firmly believe that Love, Kindness, and Forgiveness embody the true spirit of Christmas. Often, our perception of Christmas is closely associated with traveling, whether it be overseas or interstate, engaging in festive parties, and creating cherished moments with family and friends. These aspects of celebration are indeed joyful and valuable. Nevertheless, this Christmas presents an opportunity for deeper reflection, an occasion to ponder and embrace the core values that truly define the essence of this festive season: Love, Kindness, and Forgiveness.
Love
“This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you”. [John 15:12]
Love comes in many forms: the love we have for our parents, children, partners, friends, and even our country. What all these kinds of love share is a need for commitment and willingness to make sacrifices. It’s really hard to love everyone, especially people who have let us down or hurt us. Instead of feeling hate towards them, it’s better to wish them well. This helps us find peace within ourselves. It’s easy to love people who are like us, who believe what we believe. We naturally love our family and friends. But it takes a lot of bravery to love and accept people who are different from us, those who might not be easy to love. I believe that if we could accept and respect everyone, no matter their gender, race, religion, or other differences, the world would be a much more peaceful place.
Kindness
This virtue is about being considerate, friendly, generous, and empathetic to the feelings of others. Kind individuals readily extend their assistance without expecting anything in return. They are not judgmental, choosing instead to accept people as they are. Despite the unfortunate misconception that kindness is a sign of weakness, the truth is quite the opposite. These individuals display a remarkable strength in their caring and compassionate approach towards others.
One great way to celebrate Christmas is by doing something good for others. A simple act of kindness can make a difference. This is good for our body, mind and spirit. You can do simple things like saying nice words to someone who is not feeling well, visiting a friend in the hospital, giving them hopeful thoughts, or telling a friend that you’re there for them and will pray for them to get better soon. These are just a few ways to show kindness.
Forgiveness
When we choose to forgive, we are able to free ourselves from anger, marking the beginning of healing within ourselves and the start of moving forward. Achieving peace of mind and true contentment is impossible without embracing the practice of forgiveness.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother and sister who sins against me? up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I will tell you not seven times but seventy-seven times.” [Matthew 18:21-22]
Based on Matthew 18: 21-22, this is an inspiration to follow what Jesus said, and this Christmas, we should start soul searching and have the courage to forgive those who offended us. It will be a slow healing process, but in the end and with sheer determination, we will be able to do it triumphantly.
We must not forget that God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life [John 3:16].
Excerpt from my book “Reflective Contemplations”
In Love, we rediscover
Our inner selves
And the real meaning
Of what life is all about
Love teaches us to be humble.
Love teaches us to be forgiving
To be sensitive and to be compassionate
Go to www.lornasbook.com to view titles written by Lorna Ramirez
