Celebrating Christmas without ones family, but with a new family, celebrating in a new style and form.
Source : Meta AI
At least, Christmas did not pass without celebration. In my region, prisoners are not called prisoners; they are referred to as people being corrected. You can call them inmates or offenders. Many of them have committed crimes, and in fact, their crimes often label them as people who should be excluded from celebrating Christmas.
Jesus did not come to deliver the saved ones but sinners. He came to point them toward righteousness. Therefore, nobody should label them as prisoners and feel that Christmas is not meant for them. Je. Chrismas is beyond bars.
Moreover, in Lagos, Nigeria, correctional centres invite musicians to perform for inmates or offenders. They celebrate with them and make them feel at home. In fact, their present situation is not permanent.
The dream of many people we call prisoners is to be free. However, freedom should not mean returning to their former ways. The goal of correctional centres is to correct them and change their mentality about crime.
Orientation is needed—yes, it is needed—and that is what correctional centres provide for their inmates. They also teach inmates ways to make clean and honest money.
Jesus also came to spread love and to direct sinners to righteousness. He came to correct us. He was treated as a prisoner, yet He knew no sin. The people chose a prisoner with more sins over Him.
On the cross, His words to the other prisoners reveal a lot about who He was. He led one of them to Paradise because of his changed mentality toward crime.
So, Christmas is meant for everyone. Christmas within the four walls of a prison can be meaningful and even more interesting if it is well organized.
The message of the celebration is Christ.
In prison, I see people singing in unison to celebrate life. They often say that as long as they have life, they will celebrate Christmas.
Don’t be surprised that some people volunteer to celebrate Christmas with inmates. I wish I had the opportunity; I would celebrate and preach Jesus to them. It helps many of our friends know that they are not forgotten, that they have a reason to be alive, and that God is there for them.
In fact, some prisoners with good behavior are granted bail during such periods. I love everyone, and I do not tolerate crime, but denying someone love or a sense of belonging is wrong.
Confinement is not meant to be a place of torment and pain all year round. Some go to school in prison. Some study in prison, and many do other meaningful things as well.
Thank you for visiting this post of mine. I believe that, in one way or another, I have helped to change our perspective about Christmas.
Thank you.