Once upon a Christmas is a family story written by local, Nadia Roux.
We are all looking for hope in a difficult time.
For Nadia, her deepest longing is that South African homes be filled with warmth and hope once again during the festive season.
Nadia has spent time paging through her many family photos, from World War 2 until today.
She hopes her family’s Christmas story of memories will resonate in the hearts of readers:
‘Once upon a Christmas’
“In Africa, Christmas comes with a special embrace. Though the earth is not wrapped with a snow white blanket, the warmth of Christmas was always felt in our hearts and in our homes.
It was a night like this when the Christmas tree would reach her arms to touch the heart of everyone invited. Many would come with not only their hearts filled but with gifts that would put a smile on each face and fill the hearts of each child in our home.
See, our home was filled with longing this Christmas time. Since the war (WW2) started, my Mom longed for my Dad, William’s return. Her joy was filled as brothers played and I was only weeks away from being born. Every night, she would go to sleep with a longing in her heart, hoping that this Christmas would be different.
Most of their family men were away at war, though their hearts ached, some knew they would return. For my Mom, it was a dream, holding us close warmed her heart.
This Christmas was different, for her William would not return.
The New Year came with both sad news and with a promise that I would be born. With excitement, my brothers couldn’t wait, as the midwife came to our home.
On the 5th of January 1942, one could hear the sound as my lungs filled with air and a healthy cry could be heard far and wide. My brothers and I were the culmination of my Mom and Dad’s love, their joy, and the moments they treasured come to life.
Through these past two years, we’ve known a battle that raged, while many Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, and many others stood on the front lines battling for the lives of each and everyone that they could save.
Like my Grandmother, we longed for many of our loved ones to come home.
Though many did come home, our hearts filled with tears as we held the memories of our loved ones close to our hearts.
Their places are empty for a moment here on earth, knowing we look forward to the time we would see them again. You see in Africa, Christmas comes with a special embrace, though the earth is not wrapped in a blanket of white snow, we look forward to the promise of what this season holds, a promise of Hope, a Gift of Life for each one that would embrace.
For up till this day, from the time of WW2, from the old farmhouse to our little home found right here snug between all the other homes, our hearts fills with hope as we come together to tell the story of Christmas holding ‘The Promise’ it gives within our hearts.
As we look towards Christmas this year, may your homes be filled with His hope, His love, and His eternal promise, a gift to one and all!”
Nadia and her family moved to Newcastle 28 years ago, and she completed her schooling here.
To learn more about her and her family’s special Christmas story, get this week’s copy of the Newcastle Advertiser.
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