There are some things we are enjoined to do in life that either seems like a burden or we wonder what really the essence of it is, and most times we convince ourselves that it/they aren’t worth our while, but we may never know how wrong we are until we actually try them out.

Giving, for instance, the good book does tell us that it is more blessed to give than to receive and really you may wonder the logic behind this. I mean the act of giving implies you have to let go of something – forfeit that thing for the benefit of someone else – doesn’t sound so encouraging does it? But look at it this way, although you may seem to be losing something, you are actually gaining that unique joy that comes out of putting a smile on someone’s face, and that feeling is absolutely priceless. There’s also the angle of God’s blessings for obedience and the blessings of the people who you have given to.

Recently, a relative of mine who belongs to a couple of humanitarian societies announced to me out of the blue that she would be going with her people to distribute clothing and shoes to the residents of a locality in Lagos State. Initially, I wondered what clothes or shoes I had to give out, then I remembered something someone had said years earlier… if you haven’t worn those clothes and shoes in months and years, it means you can do without them and someone else could be in dire need of them, so decongest your cupboard by giving these things out.

Well, I opened up my closet and began the search. I brought out all the clothes I hadn’t worn in the past one year, I also brought out clothes that served as a reminder of certain phases in my life as well as some other clothes I just felt will look great on someone else even though they came with the ‘labels’ – who cares, I said to myself as I packed all of them including two of my favourite cardigans!

Next, was my shoe rack. I had bought this black and gold shoe last year, but for some reason hadn’t gotten around to wearing it, I took it off the rack and dropped it in a big nylon bag. Then I stumbled on suede loafers which I had bought last year and only worn once, that too, I dropped into the bag.  Also, some of my shoes that I had bought at a shoe store on Allen Avenue and hadn’t worn for a better part of the year, also went into the bag, at the end of it all I had a full nylon bag – actually two, one with clothes and the other with shoes.

Interestingly, the more I filled up the bags, the lighter I felt like some burdens had been taken off me and for some strange reason my heart was overflowing with joy and excitement, then it occurred to me that the act of giving was a totally beautiful experience, one I had missed out on for a very long time. I actually still feel that joy and excitement as I write this.

How about forgiveness? Most times when someone hurts us, we hold on tightly to the offence and the offender such that the thought of both lead to such levels of rage and anger that can only be compared to a volcanic eruption. At other times, people get the impression that forgiving someone of a terrible hurt might be a sign of weakness – something like allowing some ‘cruel person’ to walk all over you. But this should not be the case. You see, forgiveness helps you more than the person you are forgiving and gives you the ability to move on without that extra heaviness that comes with unforgiveness.

Actually, we are advised not to let the sun go down on our anger, we have also been advised to forgive seventy by seven times a day – really if you have to forgive one person four hundred and ninety times a day I e mean say that person get some serious serious plan for you! But really, try it. If you do not let the sun go down on your anger, you get to sleep ease without any extra baggage – you simply forgive, forget and go on with your life and enjoy the sweetest dreams ever. Then there’s the health angle to it. Living a life of forgiveness and devoid of animosity is absolutely healthy. It’s good for the heart and good for the soul. Studies have shown that forgiveness reduces the incidence of heart attack, improves cholesterol levels, reduces pain, blood pressure, anxiety, stress and depression! Isn’t that fantastic?

As the year is fast coming to an end, this is a challenge to you to forgive those you have hurt you, those who you have held on to in unforgiveness for months or even years, to let go and let the healing power of the Holy Spirit flow through you to take away your pain and heal that hurt completely. Release that person or those people, embrace forgiveness and happiness instead – this doesn’t mean you have to be buddies with them – the important thing is to forgive and forget.

In the same vein, put a smile on the faces of people whether less privileged or not (although giving to the less privilege does come with a special kind of joy). Make this a very merry Christmas for someone by giving in spite of how this year has been and watch how the joy in your heart will flow endlessly.

I know you can do it. I believe you will do you. So do it. Cheers.