It’s almost here, What is the true Meaning of Christmas?

Christmas is just around the corner and already plans are being put in place for a grand celebration.

The usual family get together accompanied by feasting and merrymaking seems to be the norm in Fiji.

Or is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail and shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets?

Is this really Christmas?

But what about the true spirit of Christmas.

For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends and seeing people having the money to do this deepens the sorrow.

Many are saddened at Christmas time when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons.

In Fiji, our culture is such that we are a people who love to share whatever little we have.

Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy that everyone can share if we start making plans now on how best we can help our less fortunate neighbours, or those who sleep on the street and ensure that they too enjoy Christmas.

God gave us his greatest gift through his Son becoming man and redeeming the world and it was all through his love for us.

The Kings from the east paid homage to the newborn for they knew this was no ordinary baby.

We need to emulate that love and show it through our actions.

While we share we can also use this time to heal the wounds with neighbours and those we have wronged and rekindle a new life.

Christmas is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. This is the right time to begin our plans and by being there for someone who is in need and putting a smile on his or her face is probably the best thing that you could do this Christmas.

Let us start thinking of how we can make someone's Christmas brighter, whether one does it alone or with a group of friends.

Look at Christmas in a new way this year with your family.

You could plan a day for you and your children to shop for those in need.

Explain the needs of those you saw, and make a list of things that could bless them. Decide how many gift bags you'd like to keep in your car for those special stops. For the homeless and those who sleep on the street, they are always in need of toothbrush, toothpaste, long socks, and clothes.

For the cold nights warm blankets, thick long tube socks, and mittens are a special gift.

Try and get your family, especially the children have fun packing bags for the homeless and this in itself creates a culture that would remain with them and would be passed down over time.

Let your children decorate the ordinary brown paper bags with colourful markers, including a favourite scripture.

Then stuff the bags with the items you bought. Keep these bags in your car or with you if you do not have a vehicle and look for someone in need.

Let us in Fiji bring out the true meaning of Christmas and change the lives of the less fortunate.