YOUTH AND GENDER NETWORK

Hi there and hearty greetings of the season to you. This is certainly an exciting time for sharing, caring and showing some love and appreciation to those around you. Before you run off on an adventurous boy/girl chasing spree all in the name of showing love, pull your brakes and hear me out. Definitely, the Christmas season comes with lots of joy, celebration, and excitement in the air. It is a time to show appreciation to your family, friends, business associates, as well as to those who have affected your life positively in the last couple of months. No doubt, Christmas means different things to different people. For some, it is a time for match-making and starting new relationships. Some bachelors from overseas make home-coming a ritual annually; not necessarily because they love and miss their aged parents in the village, or because they are patriotic citizens of their country, but because they believe that they would have the opportunity to meet a beehive of beautiful babes to choose from. So also, many spinsters make it a point of duty to attend as many parties and social engagements as possible in December, all in a bid to find Mr. Right. Well, I guess if you are considering tying the nuptial knot soon, there is absolutely nothing wrong in meeting as many people of the opposite gender as possible. But please be careful because there are many demons on the prowl, looking for vulnerable preys. Don't fall victim to their wiles.

Many children consider Christmas as a season to receive gifts from dads, mums, and of course Santa Claus! To many adults, Christmas means festivity; eating, drinking and celebrating with family and friends. Many also look forward to Christmas as a time for exchange of, or receipt of gifts. From richly packaged hampers, to bags of rice, to clothing, shoes and accessories; Christmas is definitely a season for shopping sprees. Be wise in your spending please!

Whilst it is necessary to partake in the joyful mood of the season, you should have your priorities right so that you show genuine appreciation, especially to deserving persons. Charity begins at home, so let's sincerely look inwards. First, those who gave you life and nurtured you deserve your appreciation this season. That means that your parents, whether biological or adopted, deserve your appreciation. It is amazing how young persons easily take their parents for granted, whereas they are ready to use their last naira to impress a new girl or guy they just met. Of course, if you are married, your spouse is of utmost importance too. Show him or her special appreciation this season. Definitely, those who have children need to shower them with lots of love, affection and gifts. What about those business associates? The guy who gave you that job or contract deserves some appreciation. So also, that colleague, boss, friend, sibling, employee or acquaintance that one way or the other impacted on your life, deserves some appreciation. If you are a student undertaking a course of study somewhere, it is definitely not a crime to say thank you to your tutors or lecturers, even if it is with a simple Christmas card. How about your spiritual mentors? Yes, that Pastor or deacon who encouraged you spiritually does deserve some appreciation this season. There are of course those who helped you through the year; probably too numerous to mention. That aunt who uplifted you in your time of depression or the guy next door, whose words of wisdom spurred you to awake from your slumber. Above all other considerations, Christmas is a time to reflect on the mercies of God over your life; a time to say a big thank you to your Maker. If it were not for the grace and mercy of God, some of us could have been slain by the wicked, or consumed in one tragedy or the other. But we are alive and well; God deserves our praise. More-so, for sending His only begotten Son Jesus to die for the remission of our sins. Look beyond yourself this season, and tap into the spiritual. Realize that God loves you dearly. Repent of every wickedness and turn a new leaf. Have a wonderful Christmas celebration. So long.