BY ANDREW DARAH,
December is the 12th month and last month in our modern-day Gregorian calendar (as it was in the preceding Julian calendar.
However, it was originally the 10th month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC. Hence, “December” comes from the Latin word decem, meaning “ten.”
Back in Roman times, the calendar only had ten months and began with March! The winter period was not even assigned months because it was not an active time for military, agriculture, or civil life.
The month of December originally consisted of 30 days. When January and February were added to the calendar (around 700 BCE), December was shortened to 29 days. Then, in the subsequent Julian calendar, two days were added to December, making it 31 days long.
DECEMBER is the most wonderful time of the year. People are more generous and happier. We are all filled with love and in the mood for sharing. There is just so much joy. Some people are more forgiving. There is reconciliation. There is a ceasefire.
This season more and more people visit centers for women, children, elders; the prison, the sick and the others less fortunate. Some do extra volunteer time in the hospital and centers – to give back.
They give back – because it makes them feel better; it’s sharing their time, money and kindness. It also means being grateful for having more than what is needed. It’s true, it is better to give than to receive.
They “give” themselves to others for a time by talking or playing with them. They show their love and bring joy to others. They feed them and share presents.
It is also the time of the year when people are more understanding and more forgiving. Many brothers, sisters and friends reconcile. There is peace in families.
December is also the time when people come home for a vacation. Parties and reunions are planned. There is so much food, we gain weight but we are having so much fun.
December is also the time when we prepare for the coming of Christ. It’s CHRISTmas time, we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.
Specifically, Catholic Christians celebrate the Advent Season which signifies hope, joy, peace and love.
It’s a special time to exchange gifts. Employers also provide bonuses and gift packs.
Almost everyone, is full of love and joy this season.
But the major challenge here is, can we stay loving and happy in this part of the world that our leaders make things so dificult that one can hardly cope?
Can one still reach out to his neighbor in love in the midst of Insecurity, inflation, strikes, protests, corruption, bad governance, and ethnic clashes that is increasingly rampant, making the cost of living high for the common man?
A man who retired from the civil service in Delta State some years now but yet to get his retirement benefits was sharing with me a couple of days back that he can no longer afford the basic things and even to feed is a problem. This is just one amongst the many thousands of them facing this same challenge. What about those affected terribly by the recent flood and still finding it difficult to find their feet. What about the many Farmers affected by the recent flu. Many are getting frustrated with the daily hardship and constant increase in prices.
A friend complained bitterly to me yesterday that this month of December, he has so many personal bills to take care of and still needs to provide some basic things for his parents. But the big problem right now is that he doesn’t even know how to go about it because the money is not just there.
As a friend who is equally faced with same situation, I advised him to take things easy and do ones he can do without much stress.
I remember before now, Christmas season is greeted with so much joy and excitement, but the story today has changed because things are no longer same.
Things are just far too expensive; clothes we use to buy for about 5k has gone up to 15k and more. Bag of Rice before now was about 22k but now over 40k. Same applies to other items
The big question that we all need to ponder on is “can one still stay loving and happy in this part of the world that our leaders make things so difficult that one can hardly cope?”
Friends, things need to change. Things need to go back to normal. We need to restore our joy again.
We cannot change things or restore our joy by carrying guns or protesting on the streets, but it can be done by protesting with our PVC. If truly we are all tired of the system and need this change, then there is need to get our PVC’s ready for action in February 2023. We must not seat on the fence this time around. We all must come out with our PVC to vote the right leaders.
Are you are Doctor, nurse, teacher, lawyer, Priest, Pastor, business man or woman, farmer? It’s time to do the needful. It’s time to take the right decision of voting for the right person.
So let’s get our PVC’S ready for the time to act is now.
