Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s Christmas Day

It’s finally Christmas day and all the count downs have ended on the D-day. As a child growing up in Nigeria, Christmas was a very special time; we were guaranteed gifts, new clothes and shoes, lots of food and sparklers which I absolutely adored. We were surrounded by family, friends and neighbours with fun, music, story telling and loads of laughter.

Christmas day started with my mum batch cooking loads of delicious meals and it was our job, as children, to go deliver the food to family, friends and neighbours. This was a fun job as we got gifts in return which could be anything from candies to money, sometimes we took their own food back home if we got there at the right time.

Christmas, all around the world is symbolised by generosity and gratitude that we are alive to see another Christmas. It is also always a time of reflection for me. This year I made some minor changes to my gift giving, deciding to focus on some charities that are doing great work. I am glad I am not alone as a number of people I have spoken to have done exactly the same.

Coming out of the recent pandemic, closely followed by global economic downturn, rising cost of living, energy crisis and union strikes, many have realised just how blessed we are when things are working as they should and going to plan. People have had a tough year but they are still forging ahead which is something to be grateful for.

Recently I came across a song titled, ‘YOU’ by Apollo LTD; I love the lyrics as they speak to how people may be feeling at this time. Many are battle weary and scarred, some gave up when they couldn’t go on but we are still here.

The song reminds us not to give up regardless of what our voice and that of others are saying to us. It’s a reminder that we are known, loved and wonderfully made. If I could give everyone in the world a gift, it would be an encouragement using similar words as those written by the Songwriters: Johnny Gates and Jordan Reynolds.

Reflect on the lyrics and be encouraged. Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading and sharing my post.

‘YOU’ by Apollo LTD,

Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t be yourself
Like it’d be easier if you were someone else
Is there a voice inside your mind
That reminds you all the time
The ways you’re broken
Has it left you hopeless?

It can be a hard, hard thing just being alive
It can be a dark, dark thing when you’re trying to hide

Every story, every scar
You are loved the way you are
There’s nothing you need to prove
‘Cause Heaven knows your name
There’s a reason you were made
Fearfully and wonderfully you
You
You

Has anybody told you that you’d never be enough
Has anybody told you that you’d never measure up
Are you just trying to escape
Trying to run from all the pain of being human
Can you make it through it?

Every story, every scar
You are loved the way you are
There’s nothing you need to prove
‘Cause Heaven knows your name
There’s a reason you were made
Fearfully and wonderfully you
You
You
Fearfully and wonderfully you
You
You

Don’t give up
Don’t give up
He’s not giving up on you
Not giving up on you
Don’t give up
Don’t give up
He’s not giving up on you
Not giving up on you

It can be a hard, hard thing just being alive
It can be a dark, dark thing when you’re trying to hide

Every story, every scar
You are loved the way you are
There’s nothing you need to prove
‘Cause Heaven knows your name
There’s a reason you were made
Fearfully and wonderfully you
You
You
Fearfully and wonderfully you

Don’t give up
Don’t give up
He’s not giving up on you
Not giving up on you

Songwriters: Johnny Gates, Jordan Reynolds