If you borrow money in January

And promise to pay back in June

Be sure to remember that time is slippery

The year goes whistling by

June comes and you have excuses

Bad business, late salary, school fees, father sick

Regardless of how many times your chickens cross the road

The year barrels on

December comes and you have still not paid

You look back in wonder and ask ‘How’? ‘When’?

‘Where has the year gone’?

It really does not matter

Time is very slippery

The year barrels on

So here we are at that time of the year

Even if you are not feeling merry

Or are not happy with anything or anyone

Whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Jew or IFA adherent

You will be wished a merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

Let us say a prayer, for those who will not be full of cheer

At this time of the year

Those who are too poor, sick, abused, afraid, lonely and vulnerable to be merry

For those who dread an inevitable New Year with each passing day

May their burdens be lessened

May their wounds of body and mind be healed,

May their weary souls be comforted

For those who have enough, or more than enough, or more than more than enough

Please remember others in word, thought and deed

For those who have celebrated and been full of joy this year

We thank God with you for all your blessings

All the weddings, birthdays, passing of the elderly, promotions

and appointments that have lifted us all up and filled us with happiness

May our days of celebration never be cut short

For all those we have lost, many cut down in their prime, their departures sudden and painful

May God Almighty dry the tears of those left behind

For those who did their country proud at home and abroad

From the whiz kids who took all the prizes home on graduation day

To those who won laurels and acclaim far away

And for those who did us proud winning a game we know nothing about

Because it is played on snow many have never seen before

We say thank you, we are ever so proud

To those who sold their brothers and sisters like goats in Libya and beyond

We say shame on you!

For those who make life miserable for others

The ones who steal, rape, kidnap and reap from where they did not sow

May the long and short arm of the law catch up with you

For the leaders who we trust to guide and shape new visions for a greater tomorrow

May God grant them wisdom, compassion and restraint

As another year rolls by and we all struggle to find our way home

Wherever home might be

May we travel forth safely

May we return safely

May we value every second of everyday as a special gift that we receive

May we have the gentility of spirit to pass this on to others in whatever form

A cash gift, a bag of rice, a bottle of wine, or a gallon of fuel

Whatever is in our means to give in this season of merry this and happy that

Please let us do so without complaint

As this year speeds to an end, enter the new year refreshed and anew

Smile, laugh, forgive, forget, make love, call friends, play with children

Live your best life like you have no other, because truly you don’t

Very importantly, let us live and act within our means this season

There is no need to keep up with the Emekas, Bayos, Agneses and Umarus

If care is not taken, come January, you might seek a loan payable back in June

Next December will roll by again and you will still be in debt

And you will say ‘Ha! Where has the year gone’?

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Social Entrepreneur and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com