Staff writer - Latoya Wakefield
The season when your plate will be overflowing with food is the season for those homeless children begging for those left-overs, rummaging the garbage bin for some scraps of food to bring them through the night, selling at the traffic lights so that they can provide for their homes, using cardboards to warm them in the cold.
Tis’ the season to be jolly for the privileged. It’s a merry season for all those who have a roof over their heads, for those who will have a warm meal in their tummies, for all those who are blessed with having their loved ones here on earth celebrating it with them. For all those who can’t even afford bread, who call the roadside their beds, who have lost someone dear, this season is the reason for tears.
I hear people complaining because they can’t afford to go to a famous party, because they can’t buy Christmas gifts and all kinds of petty things. Count yourself blessed even if it’s one chicken you can buy for the family to feast. Some people have less or nothing at all. Parties will always be around; presents are tattered and destroyed by the New Year anyways.
Where’s the true meaning of Christmas? Have we all forgotten its significance? It is the day that Christ was born to save us from all our sins. All the materialistic things associated with Christmas should pale in comparison to its true meaning. There’s no greater Christmas present to me than spending time with my family even if all we have for the day is one meal.
Angel of Peace done by Kavion Robinson
According to thinkquest.org, over 500 million people in Asian, African and Latin American countries are living in absolute poverty. Here are some other hard facts according to this site:
- For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years
- Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion – a majority of humanity – live on less than $1 per day, while the world’s 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with 45 percent of the world’s people. UNICEF
- It is estimated that some 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition, about 100 times as many as those who actually die from it each year.
- Every year 15 million children die of hunger
Instead of complaining this holiday, give thanks for what you have, even if it’s little. Instead of worrying about what to wear to a party, help a hungry child. Instead of arguing with those you love, hug them tight and tell them how much you appreciate them. There’s no greater gift than life, there’s no better privilege than to be healthy, there’s no greater feeling than love. Remember that life could indeed be worse and while you’re living, there’s always an opportunity for it to get better. Next time you frown at what mom gives you to eat, next time you think the food is not enough, next time you feel down because you didn’t get that bonus, remember that they are always those who are hungry at Christmas.
