For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV).
“I don’t remember ever celebrating Thanksgiving away from my family“ were the words a friend murmured out of disappointment. The peculiarity of this year has presented a lot of firsts for many from the norm of day-to-day living to celebrations, needless to say. With the prevailing pandemic across the world, events took a new turn in the year and this Christmas will not be spared. Measures taken include travel bans which discouraged international travels.
Where does this leave international students?
Holidays are literal gifts to international students for a quick trip to see family and catch up. However, this year will deny many of such. While this is not new to a bunch of students, some will be experiencing being away from their loved ones for the first time.
My first Christmas after my move was exhilarating; the thought of actually celebrating a Christmas with real snow was surreal. Lights lit up the mood at night as they were hung in corners of most streets. I thought in astonishment “Even my research lab was lit, and stockings were hung with names!” As exciting as these were, the feeling started to fizzle out in no time…I realized it was my very first Christmas, thousands of miles away from my family. We all have some holiday traditions, and the ways we celebrate them are what we look forward to but, when you are alone in a faraway land, what do you do? Truth is most international students get these conflicted thoughts during holidays.
Make Christmas about a message not an event
You may not be helping with cooking large pots of jollof rice, setting the decorated huge table for hosting the annual family dinner or cleaning guest rooms for holiday visitors. Rather, you may be stuck in your apartment, working on data you brought home to analyze before the end of the holidays, while snacking on corn flakes and soda, and perhaps peeking at lined up movies as a treat (haha…too much graphics there😅). Graduate school coupled with the distance may seem to suck all the fun of the season from you but when we hold to heart the central message of what Christmas is all about, which is the message of God’s salvation plan towards mankind, then the joyous season rings true in your heart wherever you are.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”. Titus 2:11
Make a ‘withlist’ and not ‘wishlist’ for Christmas
Recently, an advent message in church was about the birth names of Jesus. The pastor preached about Emmanuel (God with us; Matthew 1:23) and its significance with presence. The catch phrase that lingered was when he encouraged us to have a Christmas marked with ‘withlist’ more than ‘wishlist’. One way I have come to terms is to celebrate the way I know while embracing the new memories! It is so easy to get caught up with what is out of reach that you forget to spend time with yourself and some virtual time with your loved ones. Instead of recounting wishes that may not be feasible, stand up! plan your Christmas dinner, set a table for one or a couple as the case may be, and pick up that phone to say “Hello, how is it going in that side?” before you sleep off or they do.
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79 (KJV).
Make yourself a merry little Christmas celebration
This can pass for a Christmas decor I guess…😂🤣
The commitments of graduate school leave us without the choice of living “the ideal” life…But, does it really!? While you probably need to sneak in on Christmas eve to check on your ongoing experiments, with the hope of doing some lab-work or quiet reading before the calendar becomes busy again from the second of January, you can create time to make your holiday memories.
These are not so easy to comply with because as students we consider the realities and uncontrollable factors. I still struggle too, however, with God’s help we can do it! These points are not only useful for international students but for anyone about to overlook the blessing of celebrating Christmas in a pandemic!
Special note: Would you give your life to Jesus Christ? He is the way, the truth and the life. If yes, please pray the prayers below:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your death and resurrection for the salvation of my soul. Please forgive all my sins. I choose you today to follow and to obey. May your love and the holy spirit lead and guide my purpose for your glory. Thank you, my Lord and savior. Amen!
Merry Christmas and have a prosperous new year!!
Grace and blessings,
Olushola.
