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Greetings!
One of our indigenous musicians here in Nigeria, Ebenezer Obey once sang that ' Christmas is the most interesting of all celebrations in the world.' The song alone is enough to make one go wild when Christmas is approaching. We become so expectant of December, 25 and we also want to explore every bit of it. Christmas is a season of celebrating Jesus Christ birth and it is also characterised by eating, drinking, visiting loved ones and making our hearts merry. While Christmas is always a lovely season we look forward to, the entertainment part of it has made the season so demanding in term of money spending. It is a time children look forward to to getting new clothes, shoes, sunshades and toys and Christmas gifts their parents and relatives.
In fact, Christmas comes with a lot of enthusiasm that if care is not taken one may run into debt. While we cannot deny the fact that Christmas is a holy celebration and the season to appreciate God for the salvation of our souls, many fall victims of huge debt during this celebration because they want themselves and their wards to look the best. Nobody wants to be inferior to anyone, so people don't mind going beyond their purse just to prove a point.
I also fell a victim of overspending for last year Christmas, you know, visitation is common during this time. Friends you have not set your eyes upon in ages will come home and want to check up on you. Extended family also will come alongside their kids to say' Merry Christmas' and they must be well-hosted. That was just my case for last year Christmas. in the same Month of December, I had a wedding ceremony prior to Christmas which made me less buoyant. So, when Christmas came, people were still visiting and the funniest is that some of these visitors would have called ahead informing me of their coming and what they want to eat. So, I would just rush to the market to buy exactly what they desired to eat, even when it was costly and beyond my purse. Getting each group of visitors what they wanted to eat and not just offering them what I had and could afford was the mistake that pushed me into debt last year.
How I wish I was wiser. A family could call and said, 'we are coming to greet you for Christmas but we have had enough of rice, it's Amala we would prefer to eat'. Another group of friends would say they wanted fried rice and chicken and some other relatives from another side would said they wanted wheat and vegetables.
Imagine how much had gone fulfilling all those desires. One cannot escape debt in such a situation. In fact, some would not even bother to inform me of their coming, they will just show up since it's a festive season and people may be more than the reserved food, bringing up another cost. Little wonders my friends used to start saving for Christmas right for January. She joined a thrift contribution community where she was keeping a certain amount daily to cover the expenses for Christmas. I never knew the expenses were worth saving for until it happened to me last year.
As I said earlier, I am wiser now and I meant every bit of it. I have realised that human want is insatiable. I have also realised that humans are difficult to please. In fact, one can offfend, inconvenient and displease him/herself while trying to please others. So, there is no point going beyond one's capacity in hosting people. No need to bite more than you can chew because some of these people are not only visiting your house. Some will still visit other places where they will still eat even if you served them the most expensive and sumptuous meal of the world. The Best is just to give what is available and try not to impress anyone.
Now, for this year December, the plan is straight, I'm so sure there won't be debt of any kind. My plan is to enjoy every bit of the season without hurting myself. I will buy and clothe the kids according to my strength. I will kill and prepare the chicken that I have been rearing for the past three months and make fried rice and jollof rice with bottled drinks to anybody that visits.
The economy is not smiling but we will all smile together in our little way. With love, I know our friends and family will appreciate whatever they are given for Christmas this year.
Thank God, I also attend a white garment church. Even if anyone buys 2 million dress, she will only wear it at her house. Since, we are all expected to put on our white garment to church even on Christmas day.
No one is pressing anybody's neck. Even if I could only afford 5 dollar dress, no one will know. We will all be in our white garment in church. No need for designer shoes, our garments are already on points. So, Christmas is settled. I always believe there is life after Christmas celebration and I won't jeopardize that to impress anybody.
Merry Christmas in advance and thanks for reading.
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Other pictures are mine