Christmas and its blessings for our families. By Rev. Dr. Fyne Nsofor and family.
Special to USAfricaonline.com, USAfrica The Newspaper, Houston, AfricanChristians@yahoogroups.com, CLASSmagazine and The Black Business Journal
“Last Christmas we were thinking about all the things we didn’t have;
This Christmas we are thinking about all the things we do have.
Last Christmas we were placing wreaths on the doors of our homes;
This Christmas we are placing wreaths on the graves of our heroes.
Last Christmas we were counting our money;
This Christmas we are counting our blessings.
Last Christmas we were lighting candles to decorate;
This Christmas we are lighting candles to commemorate.
Last Christmas we paid lip service to the real meaning of the holidays;
This Christmas we are paying homage to it. Last Christmas we were digging deep into our bank accounts to find money to fly home for the holidays;
This Christmas we are digging deep into our souls to find the courage to do so.
Last Christmas we were trying not to let annoying relatives get the best of us;
This Christmas we are trying to give the best of ourselves to them.
Last Christmas we thought it was enough to celebrate the holidays;
This Christmas we know we must also find ways to consecrate them.
Last Christmas we were thinking about the madness of the holidays;
This Christmas we are thinking about the meaning of them.
Last Christmas we were getting on one another’s nerves;
This Christmas we are getting on our knees.
Last Christmas we were giving thanks for gifts from stores;
This Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from GOD. Last Christmas we were wondering how to give our children all the things that money can buy;
This Christmas we are wondering how to give them all the things money can’t.
Last Christmas we were thinking about all the pressure we are under at the office;
This Christmas we are thinking about all the people who no longer have an office to go to.
Last Christmas we were singing carols;
This Christmas we are singing anthems. Last Christmas we were thinking how good it would feel to be affluent;
This Christmas we are thinking how good it feels to be alive.
Last Christmas we thought angels were in heaven;
This Christmas we know they are right here on earth.
Last Christmas we were contemplating all the changes we wanted to make in the new year;
This Christmas we are contemplating all the changes we will have to make in this new reality.
Last Christmas we believed in the power of the pocketbook;
This Christmas we believe in the power of prayer.” Have a blessed and CHRIST-FULL Christmas!
Dr. Nsofor, President of the Global Christian Ministries, Inc, is the Owerri-based contributing correspondent on values and ethics for USAfricaonline.com. Among other trainings and graduations, he completed his graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the U.S. Nsofor served as a lecturer on theology, ethics, and hermeneutics at WATS. e-mail drcfyne@gmail.com
