The Reason for the Season: Christmas Time

I walked away from everything once - my marriage, my home, my job - to find peace and authenticity in life. Join me, Shaniqua, on Free Concepts on Mask as I share a personal reflection on life beyond material gifts, focusing on the love, unity, and moments of joy that truly define the Christmas spirit. This episode is a candid exploration of the paths we choose and the courage it takes to align with God's purpose, a message especially poignant during the festive season.

This heartwarming session isn't just about sharing stories; it's an invitation to recognize that your current situation is just a chapter, not the story's end. We discuss how life's hurdles can be a stepping stone to a breakthrough, and I extend hope and gratitude for the gift of life and the divine orchestration of relationships. Whether with family or those special individuals who enter our lives unexpectedly, these are the connections that weave the fabric of our existence. Tune in for a journey of empowerment and a reminder to cherish your intrinsic worth as we celebrate this Christmas together.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Free Concepts everyone.
Free Concepts on Mask, where wemotivate, educate and elevate.
I am your host, shaniqua.
Thank you so much for joiningand tuning in.
It's such a blessing.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
I'm gonna go ahead and start offwith my prayer and ask God to

(00:22):
give me the words to speakProbably got it.
In the name of Jesus, god.
I thank you, lord.
I thank you God for all things.
I thank you, god for seeinganother Christmas.
God, some people didn't makeyou God, but we made it, lord,
and I thank you, god for thepeople that are listening.
I ask that you have them tohave an open heart, open minds,
to be able to listen and receivewhatever it is that you have

(00:47):
for them.
God, thank you for all thatyou've given us each and every
day Breath, life and Jesus' name.
We pray Amen, amen.
Guys, listen, merry Christmas.
I know, when I think aboutChristmas, I think about the

(01:07):
times when I was a little girland I used to perform for my
family members, doing eitherMichael Jackson or Prince or
something, just entertainingaround the holiday and receiving
gifts and giving gifts.
But most of all, I justremember the moments of joy and

(01:32):
laughter with family and friendsand loved ones.
So, guys, let me tell you, ifyou do not have, say, a mom or a
dad, just know that God placespeople in our lives for a reason
and for a season.
Sometimes we have strangersthat treat us better than our

(01:55):
own family members, and if wedon't have a mom, god will
replace them with a godmother orsomeone in your life to not
take the place of that loved one, but to kind of fill in.
So thank God for the feelings.
You know, a lot of times peopleget so carried away and

(02:18):
consumed with buying things,materialistic things.
But life is not about thingsmaterial, because at the end of
the day you can't take thosethings with you.
You go six feet under.
That's it, you know.
But what life is really aboutis the relationships, the love

(02:42):
that we share, the unity that weshare, empathy, compassion for
one another and loving peoplefor right where they are.
I'm just grateful, guys, to beable to see another holiday.
Two years ago I was homeless andI'd walked away from everything

(03:05):
my marriage, my home, my state,my job, everything just so that
I could have peace of mind.
And a lot of times we gothrough life just trying to
figure out why we're here andwhat God's plan is for us.

(03:26):
And in that moment of mymarriage ending, I walked away
with wanting more of me.
Not wanting what other peoplewanted of me or what other
people expected of me, but Ijust wanted to be me, free to be

(03:47):
me, not trying to shrink myselfto be what anybody else wanted
me to be for them, but just tobe me, who God created me to be
to my core, to be that personthat God has purpose for, and
not trying to change intosomething that I wasn't changing

(04:11):
, into what the world, the hurts, the disappointments and things
that had hardened me.
I wanted to be free to just beme, and so I've learned a
valuable lesson over the yearsthat, no matter what it looks
like, no matter what it feelslike, the God is doing something
within us and we just have totrust the process, submit and

(04:36):
surrender to whatever it is, nomatter.
You know we don't understandsometimes what our future looks
like.
Sometimes we think that this isit for us, like okay, I'm
supposed to just be married andthis is it, you know, and kind
of give up on your goals andyour dreams, but just know that

(04:57):
where you are right now is notthe end.
It's only the beginning, thebeginning of what God truly has
in store for you in your life.
So don't give up, don't give in.
Just go ahead and stand talland know that your breakthrough

(05:17):
is right around the corner.
Know that God loves you, that Ilove you, and I want all of you
to have a very merry Christmas.
It's not too much other than tosay for me to say other than I
just want you guys to be blessedand know the value of you.

(05:41):
Know that you are worthy, youare enough, no matter what
anybody tells you, it's okay tobe unique, it's okay to be
different, it's okay to shinebright, to know that God has
purpose for your life.
That's why you're here, that'swhy you even listening right now

(06:03):
.
That means that you woke uptoday to another day to
experience life.
Whatever the lesson is,whatever the test is, know that
you are up for the challenge.
I want to say God bless you all.
Enjoy your holiday and know that, no matter what it is that

(06:29):
you're faced with, that you aredefinitely, definitely covered
with the blood of Jesus and knowthat God is with you at all
times.
Open up your heart and receiveHim and know that everything
will be okay with Him, andhaving a relationship with Him
not church, not anything else,but just having a true

(06:51):
relationship with God.
If you don't have hope, thenyou don't have anything.
Hold on to that hope, hold onto that love.
Open yourself again to thepossibilities, be open to
possibilities of life.
It's a beautiful thing and it'sall in what you make it.

(07:13):
So enjoy your day and again, Iam your host, shaniqua.
Thank you so much for listeningand supporting Free Concepts
Unmask.
If you want to go ahead andsend me an email, any
suggestions or any comments,send it to

(07:34):
freconceptspodcastscom.
And thank you so much.
Have a wonderful, blessed dayand week.