MY STORY TO LOVED ONES AT CHRISTMAS

By Nnabugwu Chizoba

Christmas is celebrated every year by Christians, all over the world. I have witnessed many, yet none compares to this year’s, 2015. This is due to some reasons.

For almost a month, before Xmas, my wife has been sick. The medical expert said she has Yellow fever and typhoid. She barely stands up. Apart from going for the medicals, the best she does, is to leave the bedroom to the sitting room.

I did not feel it so much, in terms of domestic activities, especially cooking, since I do such without much qualms. My little kids, were really a source of encouragement, inspiration and support.  The senior girl, Chinazaekpere, who turned eleven, December 6, has been very cooperative, indeed marvelous. She is always on hand, warms and serves the food. However, things were a bit tight, in the early weeks. I combined the domestic activities with the school run. However, with the close of schools, for the Xmas holiday, I felt somewhat relieved.

The foregoing, coincided with an untidy development in my office. The entrance to my office premises, for 2 months running, has been locked, owing to an altercation between the property owners and a tenant. The unfortunate, but certainly unpalatable incident, in a country with over 100 universities is shocking, disappointing and surprising. The tenant is at fault. This is authoritative, the court has said so. Besides the court pronouncement, the public domain, said he was wrong. The puritans and the moralists, fellow tenants, all blamed him, long before the court judgment. That the entrance to the office, is still locked, lives sour taste in the mouth. But as one, very active in mediation and conflict resolution, I am very much aware that those who work for peace, suffer bruises most of the time. But, the joy is always in arriving at an enduring, and of course, more cordial resolution. These are stories for another day.

As parents, we have always believed there is a reason for every situation on the surface of the earth. Thus, instead of bemoaning the events, we rather, waited to receive the package, the good Lord has in store for us. If you are familiar with the Holy Book, the Bible, you will make better meaning, of my assertion. That the incidents, are unpleasant is the secret. Permit me, to go on with the story.

On December 23, I started feeling somehow. However, I did not tell anybody, but managed to go out in the morning, and on the 24^th, I left the house around mid-day. My mission among other reasons, was to arrange, no matter, how little, what I will prepare for the Children on Xmas day. I took time off to have two separate sessions with my technology, instructors. While I was there, I called my wife, of course to pull her legs. I told her where I was, and requested her to join me, to which she answered in the affirmative. After that call, I continued with what I was doing. Not quite long, my phone rang and it was my wife. She had arrived and wanted to know in particular where I was. With surprise, I told her it was very easy to see me, pointing out that she need not search. Her response to this, revealed she was serious. You can imagine my surprise. I came out, and lo and behold, she was there, looking pale and weak. We managed to chart, after which she said, she will buy birds for the children, and left. You won’t believe it, but it is true, I returned home that night very sick. And my wife has relapsed into her former position, shaking and quaking.

All through the night, it was very terrible for our Children. Chinazaekpere and the sister, Ihechiluru that will turn five, on January 1, 2016. They were so inquisitive, wanting to know “what and how” the following day, December 25, the Xmas day will be. But you can be very sure, yours faithfully was not in the mood for that, so also was their mother. In the mist of this “untidy experiences”, a special, instructive and exceptionally heartwarming, situation transpired. All of a sudden our daughter, Chinaza announced that she will make the food and “Chin-Chin” they are used to, every Xmas. And almost immediately, she began the preparation of the birds their mother came back with and concluded the boiling and frying before she went to bed, that night.

Before 4 O’clock on December 25, Chinaza and her sister, Ihechi were up. To discuss with us, the parents, was like pressing water out of stone. After a forced interaction with us, they swung into action. I never imagined what happened after wards. Between when they went into action that morning and 11 O’clock, they were done with their favorite “Jollof” rice. 

Soon after they were done with the cooking, another round of disturbance started, this time for the “Chin-Chin”. With what they had done already, there was obvious reason to allow them continue with the rest of their self-imposed mandate. Before long, the woman of the house, their mother managed to assist, especially with stirring of the mixture that ended as the Chin-Chin. Immediately this was concluded, they took over and were the ones that fried the “Chin-Chin”.

Considering, that people who came to our house, met food to eat, our joy had no bounds. That it was prepared by our Children was an additional joy. In fact, that what they made was very delicious, tells another story. Our visitors attested to this. They ate and requested for more, while some quantities were taken home by them. According to all of them, they ate much because they enjoyed it, more so what they made for Xmas was stew and rice.

To the glory of God, we understood the lesson, the Almighty was trying to teach us. Though, it took almost one month, of continued sickness, by their mother. If I had not suddenly succumbed to the sickness, the way I did, we would not have known that our Children can take care of us, the way they did. Truly He (God) works in mysterious ways.

You can call this "New generation taking over: Little things that matter".

Thank you, my esteemed reader, for keeping date with us.