This classic story captures the rare moment of a mother recounting some intimate moments with her daughter before she passes on

1. Seventy Days of Christmas
ROLAND OFORI LARBI
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
SEVENTY DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
The Incredible Words of a Dying Mum to Her
Daughter

2. Seventy Days of Christmas
ROLAND OFORI LARBI
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
Ewurasi was at the Teaching Hospital, sitting by the bed side of her ailing mother. Grandma
Apenteng, as she was affectionately called, was rushed in when she collapsed at the church
grounds during an evening service. Ewurasi was by then in the United States taking care of
some business. When the news got to her, she quickly jumped on the next available flight and
was home the following day
Grandma Apenteng had gained consciousness four hours before Ewurasi arrived at the
hospital. The doctors had advised that she should not talk to anyone for some hours but she
insisted on having a word alone with her daughter.
What she would tell Ewurasi will leave tears in her eyes. Grandma Apenteng cleared her
throat, sipped some water feebly and said Ewurasi:
On your 1st
Christmas, you were barely learning how to walk, you rose and fell several times,
looking into your eyes I could see tears, of the pains of falling, but those same eyes were lit
with determination to move to the next phase of your life. My eyes were also full of tears,
seeing my precious baby fall and hurting herself several times, but I knew I couldn’t help, I
couldn’t stop you, because if I had prevented you from taking those steps as a toddler, I
would have denied you the pleasure of you standing on your own two legs. If I had assisted,
you would have ended up always needing assistance to move around because your legs
wouldn’t be strong enough to carry your own body.
On your 2nd
Christmas, you had mastered the art of walking and running around. In fact you
enjoyed the “catch me if you can” games we played together. For some reasons you had
come to believe that you were too fast for me to catch, but did you ever wonder why I
managed to catch you anytime you tripped before your flesh tasted the cruel pangs of the
floor? Never mind. You had started talking, I listened to you with rapt attention although I
had no idea what you were saying, and I enjoyed your elaborate speeches and encouraged you
to go on.
On your 3rd
Christmas, you had mastered your speech, we could have some conversations
together, though mostly it was about you complaining and pointing to your older cousins for
the wrongs they have done you. It was not easy for you when for the first time I had to leave
you in the care of someone else, when I took you to school. You cried and threw tantrums to
the point I nearly wanted to carry you back home with me, but your lovely kindergarten
teacher assured me you will be just fine. Though I must admit it took longer than expected
for you to settle down in school.
On your 4th
Christmas, you had mastered schooling and socializing with your colleagues. Our
conversations were full of tales about your friends in school and the incessant recital of those
nursery rhymes you had fallen in love with.

3. Seventy Days of Christmas
ROLAND OFORI LARBI
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
On your 5th
Christmas, you loved your school and your school mates. You kept insisting we go
visit some of your colleagues who were next door neighbors on weekend’s .You cried when I
wasn’t able to do that the first weekend. Realizing it meant a lot to you, I started building
relationships with those neighbors and every weekend we were either visiting the neighbors
or hosting them in our home. I must admit that in the beginning it was quite uncomfortable
but thanks to you I became popular in the neighborhood.
On your 6th
Christmas, you were amazing with your sheer command over the English language
and ability to flawlessly recite bible quotations at our local church. You were intelligent and
showed maturity above your age. Most importantly you were ready to enter primary school
and was not surprised you were given your first taste of leadership as a class prefect.
On your 7th
Christmas, you continued to show brilliance in school, and for some reasons you
had fallen in love with your grandparents after spending the last vacation with them. Your
continuous insistence of us visiting them or they coming to visit ended up strengthening my
own relationship with them. Something I had yearned for but was too proud to admit.
On your 8th
Christmas, you had finally mastered the art of reading without being prompted.
For the first time I was barely struggling to keep up with your reading as you read in days,
books I expected you to read in weeks. I was very proud of you, because I knew that this
singular art of reading will take you far in life. I had to always be on the lookout for new and
interesting children books. I ended up reviving my appetite for books as well
On your 9th
Christmas, I was getting worried with your incessant questioning ranging from
culture, religion and family. As frustrated as I was, I knew I had to take my time and answer
all those numerous questions, because it will form the very foundation for your perspective in
life. I had to sometimes do further research on my own to ensure I gave you the right
answers. You remember that on a number of occasions, when you gleefully run to me and
started “Mummy why is….” I told you that let us talk about it later in the evening. It wasn’t
that I wasn’t interested in your conversations, but sometimes I didn’t have all the answers to
all those questions and had to double check.
On your 10th
Christmas, you were still asking lots of questions, but this time around I gave you
some books and bible stories for you to read and later on discuss, I took all the time to help
you see the lessons from the stories we read, something you loved so much.
On your 11th
Christmas, you began to see significant changes, in your body, the phase of
puberty had started knocking on your doors, I made sure I was extra available during this
phase, I knew you needed to get all your questions answered and I hope I did a good job
On your 12th
Christmas, you were very sad because you had lost in the finals of the National
Spelling Bee Competition by only a point. It took you a while for you to appreciate my
perspective that failure was only a bump on the road of success. You finally came to terms
with it and went on to win the finals for two consecutive years.

4. Seventy Days of Christmas
ROLAND OFORI LARBI
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
On your 13th Christmas, you were now on the full journey of womanhood; you experienced
your menstruation, something which we had been preparing for since age eleven. The
hormones started kicking in and important parts of your body were visibly transformed.
On your 14th
Christmas, you were looking outstanding, beautiful, intelligent and strong. You
had passed with distinction and ready to go to High School. We were so delighted you
received the Presidential Award for best performance and went on to study in your dream
high school.
On your 15th
Christmas, I was driving with you when you hesitantly requested if you could
share something with me, I gave you that encouraging nod and you choked on the story about
the guy in high school who seems to be getting your attention. I explained to you that it was
part of growing up and there was nothing wrong with it. However, I reminded you of the
strong biblical principles about how to relate to the opposite sex and the need for you to
focus on you education. I could see the relief on your face when I thanked you for trusting me
enough to share the information with. I still remember that hug you gave when I spoke those
words to you.
On your 16th
Christmas, you were simply sweet, adorable and had perfect understanding of
your hormones. Yeah you told me several times about all those cravings and yearnings to be
like the other girls, but you knew you were unique and self confident and didn’t have to tow
the line of everybody else.
On your 17th
Christmas we were busily discussing your college choices and the professional
path you wanted to tow. Your problem was that you were good at both reading and
calculation subjects, you had equal interest in physics and biology and excelled in each of
them. However after catching up with Uncle Ben, the professional career counselor you were
certain that Engineering was the way to go. You then went ahead to pass your high school
exams with flying colors
On your 18th
Christmas, you had just returned from college, you were excited about the
diversity on campus and even admitted that some of your colleagues were way better in
academics than you were. I told you that competition is good, because is it the only way to
bring the best in you. I also reminded you of the necessity to avoid being a local champion.
You smiled broadly and promised me that you will step in with your studies.
On your 19th
Christmas, you were recounting how you have made progress in your academics
and also the fact that you were considering some leadership roles in the SRC. You were also
part of the mass choir and were involved with some student NGO which gathered used
clothing and food to give to underprivileged communities. When I expressed my worry of your
ability to juggle so many things you assured me that you got this one. Happy all these your
involvements never impacted your grades, but rather ending up in making you a well rounded
person.

5. Seventy Days of Christmas
ROLAND OFORI LARBI
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
On your 20th
Christmas, you couldn’t wait to break the news in your triumph as the new SRC
President. According to you, no one gave you a chance but your campaign message made you
come across as genuine and someone who really wanted to help. Your involvement in other
extracurricular activities won you the admiration and votes of majority of the students.
On your 21st
Christmas, you were in the mood for your last lap of college years. You also
spoke to me about your desire to partake in the Exchange Programme in the USA during your
long vacation. You were worried I wouldn’t have the funds, but you never knew your dad and
I had some investment made for you when you were born, I gladly arranged for some of the
money for that exchange programme. I still look at those pictures you sent, and the numerous
“Thank you notes” .For you the experience was priceless and eye opening. According to you,
your ambitions in life shot three notches higher due to that trip.
On your 22nd
Christmas, you had graduated with first class honors and were excited with your
National Service placement. I couldn’t be so proud of the woman you had become, already
beating all the expectations I had of you as a parent. I watch you receive a standing ovation
from your professors during your graduation ceremony. According to you, practical
engineering was pretty much different from all theories you had accumulated back in college.
You felt unsettled at the beginning but you stepped up as always and soon became one of the
most prized assets at the Engineering firm.
On your 22nd
Christmas, you had successfully completed your National Service and had three
job offers, including where you did your service. The offers were juicy and bigger than the
average entry salary for graduates, but you were hesitant because you wanted to do your
masters before you got immersed in the world of work. However you were worried there
would not be enough funds to cater for your education abroad. Just as we were still
wondering what the best options could be, you received a mail that you were successful with
your application for Common Wealth Scholarship.
On your 23rd
Christmas, you were far away in the UK, battling for your academic laurels
against the cold and home sickness. I giggled when you mentioned that you were surprised to
meet Ralph, your high school crush on the UK campus. He was also pursuing Medicine. When
you demanded the reason for my laughter I refused to say anything though.Lol
On your 24th
Christmas, you were backing home with a Master’s Degree and a lot of fond
memories of the UK. There were job offers waiting you as head hunters trailed you even
whilst on campus. You finally decided to go back to the Engineering firm you did your
National Service. You later revealed to me that anytime the senior management of that
Engineering firm were in the UK for a conference, they did well to visit with some generous
gifts, no wonder you didn’t lose weight throughout your intense studies in the UK.
On your 25th
Christmas, you informed me that you had been promoted to the role of Senior
Projects Engineer after just one year of working post your master’s education. You also

6. Seventy Days of Christmas
ROLAND OFORI LARBI
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
mentioned that you had been handpicked for a special training to enable you become a top
executive in your company after just three years. What else could I ask God for your life?
On your 26th
Christmas, you informed me that you will be paying a visit with somebody. My
guess was right, it was Ralph, and He had also successfully completed his medical studies and
was now practicing at his grandfather’s big private hospital. You were worried if your father
will receive him nicely. What you are not aware of is that your dad and I did some background
checks on Ralph when you mentioned him to me on phone during your Master’s program in the
UK. Apparently, Ralph’s father was Daddy’s classmate back in high School. They were very
good friends. According to your dad, Ralph was from a very good home and will not hesitate
to hand over his daughter to him if you so desire.
On your 27th
Christmas, I was so proud of you when you gracefully nodded your head in
acceptance of the gifts from Ralphs’s family during the engagement ceremony. The week
after was even more spectacular, with that modest but well organized wedding ceremony.
You never looked as beautiful as you did on your wedding day. I held your daddy tight with
tears in my eyes when the priest pronounced you and Ralph as husband and wife.
On your 28th
Christmas, you made me a grandmother, what a joy I had in my heart when I
held my grandson for the first time. Funny enough I think my grandson took after the looks of
your daddy, so cute.
On your 29th
Christmas, you called to inform me that you have been promoted again as Head
of the Projects Division of your company. I kept wondering what I had done to deserve so
much blessings from God. Indeed his mercies endure for ever. Ralph was also carving a niche
for himself as one of the best gynecologist in Africa. I was so proud of you.
On your 30th
Christmas, you had given birth to your second child, an adorable daughter who
was a replica of you during your childhood. Your husband invited us to spend Christmas in
your house. In fact it such a joy. You were worried why I wouldn’t allow the house help to
take care of everything. I retorted that a woman must run her home. You smiled and said to
me that things are different now, that corporate women like you don’t have the luxury of
undertaking a lot of house chores. I told you I perfectly understood, but insisted I belonged to
a different world as a teacher, who had time at her disposal. You finally gave up and allowed
me to work things out with the house help.
Today is your 40th
Christmas, you are now a powerful director of a vibrant Engineering
conglomerate in Africa, you travel a lot and you continue to push boundaries as a woman. You
now have three adorable kids, a daughter and two sons. I will encourage you to be there for
them, never forget the very foundations which made you who you are. Let them feel the love,
care attention and support your daddy and I gave you. Let every minute of your time spent
with them count. Don’t leave the fate of your children’s’ upbringing to a house help, nanny

7. Seventy Days of Christmas
ROLAND OFORI LARBI
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
and their teachers, be actively involved and help them build the right foundation in the fear
of the Lord.
I am not sure I will make it to my 71st
Christmas, but I thank God he gave me the opportunity
to enjoy all the 70 Christmas he promised us in His word. I can’t wait to see your father, who
left me to be with the Lord three years ago.
I guess I have been able to pay my dues these past seventy years by raising a phenomenal
woman like you. You were my only child, though I tried having a couple more but was never
successful.
Nevertheless you have been more than enough for me and if you were the reason for which
my maker allowed me to come to the face of this planet, then I guess I have done a good job.
I love you so much Ewurasi, take good care of my grandchildren.
With that said, Grandma Apenteng held the hand of her daughter tightly and with a smile of
relief she gave up the Ghost.
From the desk of ROL