Loma Christmas Chant

David Naff, author of "Stories From West Africa" has included this Christmas chant from the Loma tribe in Liberia. I hope it will inspire and bless you as it did me.


THOUGHTS FOR CHRISTMAS

Loma Tribal Chant from Liberia

Whoever on the night of the
Celebration of the birth of Christ
Carries warm water and a sleeping mat
for a weary stranger,
Gives wood from his own fire
to a helpless neighbor,
Takes medicine to one sick with malaria,
Brings words of peace
to one who is bound with fear,
Gives food to children
who are thin and hungry,
Provides a torch for a traveler in the forest,
Sings a new song
for the young people dancing under the stars,
Visits a timid friend
who would like to know about Christ.
Whoever does these things
Will receive gifts of happiness
He will have peace as one whose rice harvest is great,
And who hears his neighbors
praise the exploits of his youth.
So will you receive happiness
If you do these acts of love and service
On the night of the celebration of Christmas,
The birth of Christ.

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Attribute to David Naff

You can find more of David Naff's stories at http://www.vernacularmedia.org/index.php/West_Africa_Stories_%28Naff%29_-_downloads

James 2:14-18
Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well" ? but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all ? it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds."