It is the most wonderful time of the year for so the song says!

Do you agree or no?

One of my favorite childhood memories with family happened during Christmas time.

When I was younger and my family had gone to visit my grandparents in the village (countryside -US) as it was customary to do, most of us kids were so excited because this was the time to see all the cousins we had not seen for about a year. Now, I will tell you that at that time in Nigeria, there were no cell phones, and there was no electricity in the village. If one had electricity, one had a generator and that was turned on for a few hours of the day.

When the generator came on, we were all happy and played music. It was funny now that I think of the fact that we as kids would compete for who was the best dancer when music was played. No, I was not the better or best dancer; I know how to move to a tune and that my dears is it.

One thing we often did was go to church on Christmas day and it did not matter what day of the week December 25th was, we went to church. In this one year, all of us were in the grandparents home and we were all excited and getting ready for church, my grandparents had already gone earlier and now it was us the grand kids aka “late out-of-towners” turn to go to church. We got ready and were more than fashionably late there. We all (all of the 10 plus grandkids) sat in a few of the pews and I can bet you, we did not pay any attention to what the sermon was about. We were too busy looking for old friends who were also coming back to the village for Christmas 😝.

When it was time for offering, we all got up lined up and danced our way to the offering plate!. Have you ever seen an African church service offering? Check out this link on YouTube to see what I am talking about. After church service, we all go out of the church and then meet and greet old friends and even visit them sometimes.

This memory of this year in Nigeria for me was my favorite because I Chose to enjoy and take in everything around me. My brother and I had been praying to God for a miracle to come back to the US and I knew that this might be the last time I was in the village for a long time.

This ended up being true-I have not been back in the village for almost 20 years! I have lost family members in Nigeria that were dear to my heart and grandpa and grand a have also passed away. These two people made Christmas time special. We did not have much but there was food, laughter and lots of stories by moonlight that grandpa told us.

The song I’ll be home for Christmas often reminds me of this fond memory that I have, when we were young, and loved ones were still here! Do not think that I do not love Christmas now and do not have any fond memories here in the US! I would share that another day 😊

I still say

Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year!

The happiness that comes from the memories being made and the ones already made too. Happiness from being with the people that I love and the memories of laughter and so much more.

The carols that I sing along to and love, the time people take to be kind to each other, the time we try to spend with one another, that to me is Christmas.

The kindness we see is a reflection of the kindness of God who sent His Son Jesus. The same Jesus who sends the Holy Spirit to comfort, teach, help us and so much more. I love Christmas and I love it because I see a God who is not afar off, it is the time He showed me that He is with us, just like it said in Isaiah 7:14

What is your most favorite thing/part about Christmas? Share!

😊

With this I want to wish you and your family A Very Merry Christmas!

This would be the last post and episode for the blog and podcast. Follow me in Instagram and see what I am doing this holiday time.

I will see you, God willing in January 2020!

God bless you always,

Ezanya