Let us resurrect the spirit of brotherhood

Dec 26, 2010

IN the olden days, whenever a festive season like this came around, people did not only send out Christmas cards and play Christmas songs, but they killed slaughtered animals and harvested lots of food which they shared with their neighbours.

By Deo Tumusiime

IN the olden days, whenever a festive season like this came around, people did not only send out Christmas cards and play Christmas songs, but they killed slaughtered animals and harvested lots of food which they shared with their neighbours.

Everyone was sure to have something to eat on Christmas, even the poorest of the poor.

Today, things seem to have changed quite a lot as people have become too self-centred and the spirit of sharing seems to have dwindled. In Kampala, where some people do not even care to know who their immediate neighbour is, someone may spend Christmas on an empty stomach while the neighbours are throwing away food to the dogs.

This festive season, everyone needs to rejuvenate the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. Let us all open our hearts, especially to the unfortunate people that are struggling to survive. I believe that feeding the hungry and being kind to people who are helpless is far greater than giving a lot of money in church as offertory during prayers on Christmas.

It is high time we stopped looking at God as very far away from us. We should stop imagining that God needs our money and gifts more than our immediate neighbours who are starving. The Bible tells us that God is within the heart of each one of us and that whatsoever you do to the least of your brethren, thou you do unto him.

My mother taught me the spirit of sharing, and whenever I receive food from the village, I share it with my next door neighbour. Good enough, my neighbour also often shares her food and other pleasantries and because of this, we live as one family, despite our diverse backgrounds.

You cannot expect someone’s Christmas to be merry on an empty stomach? So, every time you kiss someone merry Christmas or send them a card, first make sure that they have what it takes to be merry. With this, we shall all glow with smiles as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Remember the golden principles: No one is too poor to give, just as no one is too rich to receive — and it is through giving that we receive much more.

Personally, I have got a double blessing because God did not only wish me a merry Christmas with his own son, but He also blessed us with a baby girl, we named Tia, last week. So, I wish all Ugandans a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.


The writer is a private media consultant


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