The countdown to Christmas and the New Year is on. This is a very exciting period characterised by family reunions and close interaction with friends. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is something special to the Christians. We also celebrate as we usher in the New Year. However, do we all understand the meaning of Christmas and the relevance of bidding farewell to a given year and welcoming the new one?In my simple analysis, Christmas means remembering and recognising the birth of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, and reflecting on the reasons why he was born. This implies that as we celebrate, we ought to do it in line with the teaching of the scriptures. Ironically, some Christians do certain things that contradict the purpose of this special day.

To them, Christmas means drinking excessively, being violent and engaging in sexual immorality. Some of them even fail to locate their homes on that day after taking a lot of alcohol.  Some reckless individuals begin celebrating on Christmas Eve and the holy day finds them in a drunken stupor. Can they reflect on the birth of Christ when they are tipsy?I think there is need for the adult Christians to be exemplary to the younger people. They should teach them the true meaning of the day and encourage them to celebrate with moderation so as to uphold the values of Christianity. The young people are prone to temptations and if they are exposed to uncontrolled excitement, they can engage in very high risky behaviour which may ruin their lives.

As teachers, we expect all the students to report back to school for studies when they have redeemed themselves. This helps them to study with ease and cases of indiscipline are minimised. Therefore, parents should use this festive season to inculcate Christian values in their children.The youth should be encouraged to use this period to commit their lives to God. They have to promote the values that Jesus Christ stood for. They should be prayerful and show love and care to humanity by supporting the indisposed, disabled and the poor during this festive season. By promoting peace, love, unity and compassion, they will be able to touch many hearts and change many lives.As this year comes to a close, the young fellows should reflect on what they have gone through since January. They should consider the achievements that they have registered in terms of academic excellence, development of life skills and moral transformation among others.

They should think about the people whose lives they have changed through moral and material support. There is need for them to consolidate their achievements and work harder in the New Year.The young ones should reflect on the challenges that they might have experienced this year.  They ought to realise that life is full of ups and downs and whenever we stumble, we are supposed to seek support from those around us in order to rise up again. The challenges should inspire them to work with passion and conviction next year.Those who might have performed poorly in academics this year should put in place strategies that will transform their performance in the coming year. If their poor performance was as a result of indiscipline, they should discard all the bad tendencies that they used to exhibit at school and cooperate with their school administrators, teachers, parents and peers for their own progress and for the progress of everyone around them. Discipline connects them to people of integrity but indiscipline destroys their opportunities.Otherwise, may you enjoy this festive season. May your Christmas be merry and may the New Year bring joy and success to everyone.The writer is a teacher at Riviera High School