22/12/2024
4A
A Christmas Reflection: A Tale of Friendship, Regret, and Redemption.
Christmas should be a time for joy, giving, and celebration with loved ones. A season filled with laughter, warmth, and togetherness-But for me, it was a penetrating reminder of a friendship that was filled with adventures, happiness, and ultimately, regret.
It was Christmas Day, 10 years ago, when I met Leinad. We were introduced by a mutual friend at a holiday party, and from that moment on, we were inseparable. We spent days playing video games, exploring the city, and enjoying each other's company.
As the years went by, our friendship deepened, and we became more than just friends-we were brothers. I was a Christian, but that didn't matter because all I wanted was a free life, something different from my sheltered life as a child. Leinad wanted that too, his parents were divorced and he stayed with his aunt who treated him like dirt. The bond we shared made me think that bringing up Jesus might just ruin things.
This Christmas, as I reflect on our time together, regret and guilt is all I see because amidst all the fun, I now realize that Leinad was that one soul I missed a lifetime opportunity to share something much more valuable with.
Reminiscence People console me with "Oh, you two made good memories"- but of what use is that if we are not going to meet at the heavenly dinner on the last day? We had spent years galivanting, never for one day did we take the time to talk about faith or the state of our souls.
Now, I wonder where Leinad's soul is-heaven or hell? That thought scares me. The reality of the afterlife. I often think about what could have been if I had only shared the gospel with him. Would he have accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior?
Would our friendship have been even deeper and more meaningful? These are questions that I will never have the answers to, and it's a burden that I carry to this day What about Christmas?