Christmas to us

We could not afford it. It was a want and all we needed was food, clothing and shelter. I was fine by me but what about my two siblings? Did they understand we could not afford it? Did they know that all that matters is good health and happiness and one did not need new clothes and cook a lot of food when not being hungry is enough? Being the first born is really not easy.

Mother, a love that one cannot understand and all we can do is pray for a longer stay on earth, a long life to enjoy the fruits of our labour... My mom bought Christmas clothes in instalments and at time she would end up spending six or more months to make sure that when the kids in the neighbourhood wore new clothes, we also had smiles on our faces with our own. She had pyjamas on for the day as we played and cooked what she had saved for on that day. Nobody came knocking with gift for Christmas. I am not complaining, I giving thanks.

With time things got tough, the economy! Then a silver lining presented itself. We have been brought up in the ways of God and that explains why church to us was a must. It came a time that we use to register names a week to Christmas and on Christmas day early in the morning, one would present themselves to church and would be handed the green paper bag (the ones branded with a man on a horse and a calendar on the other side) that contained something for Christmas. I thank God for such times. We would eat chapattis and tell neighbours ‘mommy is making us awesome food for Christmas’.

I am sitting here and thinking to myself after sitting down, my mother, my brothers and I having cooked a lot of food and eating to our fill, that it was because of someone setting aside something for those who cannot afford a Christmas meal, is the reason we smiled and ate chapatti on Christmas. It is because of their kind gestures, we found meaning for Christmas. May god bless them for then and continue to, for those who selflessly offer to provide for others.

Dear reader, 

Make sure to share a smile and a day during this season with someone who does not have that privilege. Do not be selfish; make someone look back at this festive season and thank God for it. It was my mother’s effort to save up for Christmas despite the little we had until we grew to understand that Christmas is not all clothes and the food but remembering to be joyful that God showed love and let us have His only son to come and suffer for our sins atonement. He had to lose for us to gain. I sit to think to myself, He must have cried and had a lot of pain knowing His son was leaving to suffer the brutal world for salvation to mankind and also the initiative from those who gave for us to have.

Merry Christmas from my family to you.

©Francis Wairimu

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