Praying with Understanding

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Prayer, I believe is a conversation between us and God, either we are giving thanks, making requests or even asking questions. Yet it is not uncommon to feel like a prayer could be such a complicated and maybe even a delicate conversation to have, after all, it's God we are talking to here. There is no way that wouldn't be somehow daunting! I remember learning to pray as a child during family devotions and how nervous I'd get, mumbling through my words, hardly able to get anything coherent out. My auntie, bless her, would jump in the middle of one of my many long pauses to rescue me and carry on with the prayer but once we were done, my uncle would almost chide her for not giving me a chance to learn and develop my confidence. I didn't blame her; I found those long pauses very uncomfortable too! So, I usually understand when people tell me they do not know how to pray and would prefer others to pray for them or they'll just avoid it altogether and some even ask if
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Spread Some Cheer!

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Logged out of work and remained at the table with nothing other than mini stollen bites and chilled Baileys Irish Cream on my mind! I've been thinking of how to make this Christmas one to remember (…yeah I know what’s going on, I haven’t just crawled out from under a rock!) just as the whole year 2020 will be unforgettable.....do I hear an Amen?!

Having a Christmas devoid of a proper school nativity, Christmas panto, carol services where you are belting out songs at the top of your lungs (now, I’d be panic stricken if someone decides to sing near me!) or going to a Christmas Market teeming with loads of people while you work your way through each stall, munching on warm delicious macaroons or giant churros dripping with warm chocolate syrup!
I refuse to feel depressed about anything and instead make this 2020 Christmas a memorable one as God will allow!
I had a white Christmas tree delivered weeks ago and I already have my theme in my head. Never had a white tree before, always have gone with the green one which I consider traditional but that's my opinion, different colours for different folks!
I have been trying to ignite my festive spirit by working my way through a Christmas fruit cake and continually muster enough strength to walk past mince pies because once I start on them, I'll eat one each day until they pack it off the shelves, I am that shameless when it comes to festive indulgence.(can't fathom people that can't stand mince pies and Christmas cake!). Maybe I was born in December and my parents got it wrong somehow!
Ok, so all the above, and also include day dreaming and night dreaming about what more Christmassy thing to do to get me jingling. I realised immediately that those were not the cheer giving things I needed this season, all I want is to put smiles on some faces and I remembered my plan with my sister and some friends to do our bit about Christmas meals and that brought me immense joy.
So many people have gone through untold hardship this year, they already had it bad but the pandemic on top of it all just made it even worse. Let's not even talk about the nightmarish episode that happened in Lagos last month and the brutality that keeps playing out every single day on the streets of Nigeria.

Most kids are not even bothered about a Christmas meal just as long as they have something, anything to eat.

My hope is that people who have enough to share this season would do so, and I know most people can: just cooking for two, three or four extra mouths on Christmas day and wrapping up a few items as Christmas presents for the children, wouldn't be so bad, would it?
A lot of us already do this every opportunity we get which is great but we need more people especially now more than ever. There are charities that also do their bit but I’m calling on individuals now, support charities to continue this commendable act but do this, just feed one family.

I keep saying compassion, love and the sense of what is fair and just keep running in the opposite direction and only a few of us are catching up with it to run beside it.
When I read about people who fed protesters during the #endsars protest in Nigeria, I was filled with joy and prayed for all those who were involved with that. Hunger is an awful thing that no-one should  experience but alas, even free palliative were hidden, rotting away in warehouses or allegedly shared as birthday souvenirs by corrupt individuals while children and others are facing starvation!
God is truly merciful and slow to anger!
We need to be our brother's keeper and be there for one another, one step at a time, put what we preach into action. I remind myself of this every day, as the only reason why God gave me more than enough. Yes, I may have more or less than the next person, depending on what you’re counting but frankly I am contented with what I have and it's more than enough to share with others.
When God sees how much you want to make people happy, He provides you with what you need to do just that, so open up your fist and give to receive.

This picture here brings back a lot of happy memories and reminds me of why I'm truly thankful.
Look around for a family in your neighbourhood, place of worship or place of work to bless with a Christmas meal and some goodies. If you have a lot more to give and want to consider throwing a party as most Nigerians I know would , I would say that may not be the best idea in this current climate of coronavirus.
Wherever you are, there will be a family that will benefit from your goodwill and kindness, find them and bless them and let's end 2020 with thanksgiving and benevolence.

If you are reading this, you are still here on planet Earth, not by your own power but by GRACE.

Love.x

 

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