THE Christmas festivities may be dying down, but we remain in the festive season where we still have the turn of the New Year to celebrate.
We believe in the spirit that surrounds Christmas, which is about giving, and receiving and we feel this is the best way to celebrate Christmas.
We must also be reminded during this Christmas period that our world has so many problems.
Some problems can be sorted out in the short-term while others are really long-term.
We should also be reminded that the problems in this world can only be sorted out by ourselves and that no super being will fall from the skies to clear all the troubles we have, be it climate change, hunger, disease or even poverty.
It should be borne in everyone’s mind that sorting out the troubles of the world is everyone’s responsibility and any form of help, no matter how little or big, goes a long way to help make the world better.
Yesterday, we were happy to see pictures of the First Family going round giving out to Christmas babies and also encouraging parents to take care of their children and take them through the first five years with utmost care.
President Edgar Lungu visited the newly upgraded Chilenje Hospital before going to Our Lady’s Hospice in Kalingalinga and made a stop-over at Kalingalinga Clinic where he encouraged mothers, patients as well as medical personnel and asked for increased care of newborns, especially in the first five years of life.
The First Lady was also making her own rounds donating hampers and telling parents to take care of the little ones.
Sharing what you have with the have-nots is one way that will help make this world a better place to live in. This is what socialism is all about – equitable sharing of the resources to avoid overload of resources in one area while the other remains deprived.
We all know that the wealth that this world has, if shared, can clear all hunger problems this world has and while that venture may never happen, it is a worthwhile venture that we people learn to give, and give willingly and cheerfully.
We can take a leaf from the Holly Bible, which in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that says that Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
President Lungu has shown us the way about giving by surrendering his salary, and while many will argue that he probably doesn’t need it, it’s the spirit of being able to give what you can and cheerfully that is inspiring.
When visiting the Our Lady’s Hospice in Kalingalinga which looks after people ailing from AIDS and other chronical diseases, and provides Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) to in and outpatients of all ages, President Lungu’s sharing can help solve some problems, but cannot end them all.
That is the spirit of Christmas. It encourages us to share our time, resources and love. We cannot solve every problem, but by working together, we can do a lot.
We fully agree with this and urge people to give, and do it cheerfully.