ABOUT CHRISTMAS

I grew up knowing that Christmas is a time to get new 'ngoroba' dresses, to visit the neighbors who visited us last year and play hide and seek. Christmas was the time when there would be a variety of food to choose from. For quite some years this was it for me. of course we looked forward to Christmas for the obvious reason of new clothes.

Years later I learnt what  Christmas truly meant. That Christmas was the celebration of  the birth of Jesus Christ; the saviour who would die a shameful death on the wooden cross to save us from our sins. Now this felt even better. The story of the birth in the manger was extremely intriguing for my little mind.. Now that I fully understand I am grateful for the reminder at Christmas.

As we celebrate the birth of the saviour this year I pray this will be a different Christmas. More than the food and drink, family get together and ngoroba dress like me, I pray that we will recognize  the immense love that God had for us to send us His ONLY begotten son.

So here goes my Merry Christmas. Remember  God loves you that much. Care to love Him back?

EIGHT YEAR OLD ME

I am seated near this large window staring outside, remembering with nostalgia, the eight year old I used to be. Very bold and confident. So courageous I could recite a poem on AIDS at a wedding. I would say my three names to whom it did not concern. My voice was so loud. A microphone? What for? You can say I was kiherehere or is it kimbelembele but I would call it Super confidence. Those who met me as a child would bear good witness.

Then I grew up and became more aware of my surroundings. I learnt to tone down a bit; to speak softly. To never recite poems in public. The more I grew the more I shrank. I was taught there is a way of doing things. There is the generally acceptable standard to conform to. 

In her book Without Rival, Lisa Bevere says:

  "It is hard to escape the messages and messengers that tell us we are not good enough, young enough, smart enough,fast enough, and rich enough.We are bombarded in the hopethat we will shrink to their expectations. It is only human nature that we would want to deflect this incessant bullying that implies we are never enough."

True to her word, I did not escape.  I succumbed to the very trap.I was fed with the same message that the world feeds us all with " You are not enough" I unlearned the confidence I once had.The eight year old me would be surprised if she read this post.

So last week I came across this book by Joyce Meyer called The Confident Woman and I decided to read it through. Then as if for demonstration purpose, I met this woman who oozed with such confidence I was impressed. I saw in her the girl I once was; the woman I am now struggling to become.

Friend, does this resonate with you? Have you found yourself wondering if you are enough? Have you listened to stories that you should have shut your ears to? Have you taken heed of the deception? To insecurities?.

Join me as I journey towards taking heed of the truth. Listening to the right voice; The voice of the one who made us. Forget the lies you have heard.You are enough. Your true identity is only found in God who knit you together in your mother's womb.