By: Beverly Richards
President National Council of Women

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the Nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. My message to you for the remaining days of 2021 and 2022 and beyond is a message of hope and brotherly love. Christ has taught us to “Love the Lord with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself.” My hope and my desire is that we become more loving as we allow the love of God to be shared abroad in our hearts. Let us for Christmas 2021 and for the New Year form a human chain, touching a sister or a brother across from us.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is too small to be so divided, love and respect seemingly have vanished. We are bombarded and terrorized in some way or the other by the hostility of people who do not hold the values we hold dear. There are those who are willing to suffer the consequences and go to any lengths to get what they want.

2021 has been a very rough and tough year for many of us. We were faced with many social, economic and continued health disruptions. We should remain optimistic and hopeful in spite of these challenges and fortify ourselves with our own convictions of faith and love. The breadth, depth and height of God’s love is extended to every facet of our life.

So this Christmas we will celebrate our survival that we have made it, we are still here in our right minds. We have more reason to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whether you have a lot or a few, we have endured the circumstances. God has a plan and a purpose for our life, let us explore and live life to the fullest.

Merry Christmas to our health workers, educators, politicians, believers in Christ, men women and children. Remember there is more to unite us than there is to divide us. When you think it is going to be tough and rough, change the game, re-arrange and break the tradition. Do not sit in the misery of yesterday, create a new future for you and your family. Have a Blessed Christmas and Christ- centered 2022.