The Spirit of Christmas

Christmas is a time for spreading goodwill and I think it’s fair to say that it happens more around Christmas than at any other time of the year. Part of spreading this goodwill is done in the form of greetings and wishes, but it’s mainly in the form of giving gifts, and these gifts take a variety of forms. It’s all part of the Christmas tradition.

So, what to give?

Times are such that even something as simple and heart-warming as giving a gift to a loved one or friend can now be quite stressful. What started with a simple notion of it’s the thought that counts, has evolved into something far more complicated, or so it seems. We are a nation of great wealth and in 2019, most of us have far more than we need so choosing gifts has become so much more difficult. In many cases I’m sure a lot of people feel that buying gifts in today’s world starts from a premise of “how do I buy something for someone who has everything?”

People’s expectations for both giving and getting gifts have also gotten way out of whack. What to buy, how much to spend, should I buy something practical or just the usual stuff, do I give money or a gift card, do I spend the same amount on both kids, will they like this or that and so on it goes.

That’s Australia for the most part. In some overseas countries, it’s a very different story and that’s what I’d like to focus on here.

Last week, a local Orange family decided to do something for a 4YO child who lives in poverty in the Philippines. His name is Zai and he’s just one of millions of children around the world whose circumstances are anything but what most children experience here in Australia. For some, living where there’s no clean drinking water, for others, having to work long hours as slaves in oppressive conditions just to survive, others not knowing where the next mouthful of food may come from, and so on. It all sounds so sad and, in some cases, unbelievable that anyone should have to live like that. Sad to say it does happen and it’s happening right now right across our World.

For Zai however, this Christmas is going to be very different and possibly for many more Christmases to come. Zai’s name is among many that are on a list at an organisation known as Compassion. Compassion is a Christ-centred, child-focussed, church-based organisation that among other things arranges sponsorship for poverty-stricken children like Zai, in places all over the World, so they can have a far better chance at life.

It costs $48 a month to sponsor a child like Zai through Compassion and this sponsorship benefits not only the child but their family as well. In Zai’s case, this money will enable the staff at the Little Lambs Child Development Centre in his Country to provide him with Bible teaching, sports, medical check-ups, hygiene education, field trips, social events and literacy and maths skills development, among other things. Saying that the sponsorship will make a life-changing difference to Zai and his family, is probably an understatement.

I said at the beginning that Christmas is a time for goodwill and that giving is a traditional part of that, this story is to encourage you to think a bit further afield and about children who may never have experienced the spirit of Christmas as we know it. I think the Orange family who has decided to sponsor Zai has done something absolutely spectacular, and they’re just one of millions of families across the world who have done similar, be it through Compassion, World Vision or another equally respected child sponsorship organisation. Thumbs up to all who sponsor such children!

To contact Compassion or to find out more about what they do:

Tel: 1300 224453     Email: compassion@compassion.com.au     Web: www.compassion.com.au