Zaria Garrison shares "What She's Grateful for this Christmas"

What I am grateful for this Christmas

By Zaria Garrison

As the Christmas season approaches, I hear many people complaining. It surprises me that so many people have a negative image of what should be one of most joyous times of the year.  I have heard people moan about how Christmas is too commercial. Then others have talked about how the economy is so bad they can’t even think about celebrating. While others bemoan the fact that they are not in love, don’t have a large family, or otherwise may be alone during the holidays.  Lastly, there are those who feel that Christmas magic ends after childhood. The joy of Christmas disappears along with belief in Santa Clause.

I suppose all of these whiners do have valid points. It’s true that for many Christmas is very commercial. It’s about making money, selling items, and the almighty dollar. I also realize that the economy is bad right now. Many people are out of work and finances are tighter than Mariah Carey’s leggings.  It’s also true for many that Christmas becomes a lonely time without loves ones.  Lastly, I have to give validity to the fact that I don’t wake up on Christmas morning searching for a new Barbie, or a shiny red bicycle the way that I used to. All of these things are valid, in some ways.

However, this article is about what I’m grateful for this Christmas, and I have to say I am grateful that I do not feel any of those negative things when I think of Christmas.  I am grateful that while the rest of the world is caught up in black Friday sales, the lowest price of a Wii, and how much cash can be earned during the holidays, these things do not control me.  Of course I look for good prices, and I have a teen-ager to buy gifts for, but those things are not most important.

I am grateful that even though I don’t have a job God has continued to bless me and my son. We have a roof over our heads, we have food to eat, and we will have gifts on Christmas morning. Even in a bad economy, God is still in the blessing business.

On Christmas morning my mother will not be present, she is in heaven celebrating with my brother, and her other relatives who have gone to glory. Those of us left behind will miss them, but I am grateful that we have each other. 

As an adult, with a teen-aged son, I won’t wake up Christmas morning looking for toys with excitement. But I currently feel excited because I know what Christmas is all about. The joy of knowing that God sent his only son as a gift for me far outweighs any present I’ve ever received.  This Christmas I am grateful for his presence in my life.

If you are not happy with the commercialism of Christmas, then don’t buy into the hype. Your children will be happy with love on Christmas morning, even if that’s all that you can give them. Real genuine love lasts all year and doesn’t end up broken by December 27^th.

This year at Christmas I am grateful that I have that love in my life. I am grateful that God is ordering my steps and blessing me abundantly.

This Christmas I hope you’ll allow Jesus to be born into your heart, so that you can feel the true joy of Christmas as well.

About the Author

Zaria Garrison is an award-winning author of Christian fiction who is committed to writing and publishing literature that ministers as well as entertains.  Her ministry goal is to promote literacy in the Christian community, by helping Christians to hear the gospel within the pages of literature.

Her first Christian fiction novel Prodigal was released by Urban Christian Imprint, a division of Kensington Publishers, October 2009.  She is also co-owner and staff writing of EKG Literary Magazine, which caters to all members of the literary community.

You can find her online at www.zariagarrison.com or www.ekgliterarymag.com                                                                

Interview with author Zaria Garrison

Hello Zaria, introduce yourself to my readers. I am Zaria, a first time Christian fiction author. I am also co-owner and staff writer for an online literary magazine EKG Literary Magazine. We aim to be the pulse of the literary community. I’m also a single parent of a son who is going through the terrible teens.

Your debut Christian Fiction novel, Prodigal sounds like a great story. Tell us about it. Prodigal is about twins sisters, Phoebe and Phylicia, who fall in love with the same man. He is Rev. Gary Morgan, who is married to Phylicia. Early on the readers learn that while he deeply loves Phylicia, Gary shared one night of teen-aged passion with Phoebe. The results of that night resurface when Phoebe moves back to town intent on taking from her sister the man she believes is rightfully hers. It’s full of drama, surprises, and most importantly God’s voice.

Sibling rivalry is always a good source of conflict. What inspired this story?

It began as a re-telling of The Prodigal Son from the Bible. I thought it would be interesting to look at the conflict from a female perspective. Unbeknownst to me God was also dealing with me as I wrote it because of my own sibling rivalry with my sister. There were times that I’d go back and reread my own words and suddenly realize that God was speaking to me. Over the years my sister and I have had a roller coaster relationship that has resulted in physical fights as adults. I know that God was not pleased with either of us. Writing Prodigal helped me realize I couldn’t blame my sister for everything. I needed to look at myself and my own actions. Currently my sister and I get along, but we are not as close as we should be. So God is still dealing with us.

Do you have a favorite twin? I put a little bit of myself into the character of both twins, but Phoebe is by far my favorite. She may be seen by some as the “bad” twin, but I still see the good in her. She’s funny and a lot of fun.

What is the spiritual message you’d like for readers to take away from this story? In Prodigal, several of the characters are called upon to forgive one another for various acts of betrayal. Forgiving someone when they have really done you wrong is one of the most difficult things to do. Even sometimes when we think we’ve forgiven a person that wound is still open and it hurts. I hope that the readers will take this opportunity to search their own hearts for forgiveness of loved ones.

Zaria, aside from both writing for the same publisher you and I have something else in common, we both got “the call” that our books were wanted for publication on the same day. Share a little about your journey to publication?

My first book, Baring It All was published under my birth name Gena Garrison in 2005. It was secular writing. It won Mahogany Media’s best new writer award for 2005, and also Mahogany Media’s Best book club selection for 2005. But God stepped in and told me he did not give me the gift of writing to write secular novels. So I began writing Christian fiction. I queried two publishers. The first totally ignored me and that crushed my ego. But my Mom told me not to give up. Shortly after she passed away my grief wouldn’t allow me to sleep. So I got up and logged onto the internet. That’s when I discovered a new Christian imprint at Urban Books. I sent my manuscript to them the next day and it was accepted. I feel deeply humbled and blessed that I don’t have a stack of rejection letters like a lot of writers.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing or reading or being mom?

One of my favorite past times is internet surfing. I enjoy reading gossip blogs, Wikipedia, or just chatting with people on various social networking sites. The internet has so much information I don’t think even I can read it all. I also love music and singing. I sing with my church Praise team, and my son and I like to harmonize together.

Who are some of your favorite authors? Victoria Christopher Murry, Carl Weber, Virginia Deberry & Donna Grant, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Octavia Butler, and Bebe Moore Campbell just to name a few. They all have different writing styles, but they each have a unique manner of telling a story. I’m a firm believer that there are no new ideas, just new twists on old ones. These authors have mastered the art of the twist.

Share some of your upcoming book events and how can readers get in contact with you?  My book release party is coming up on November 14 in my hometown of Greer, SC. Any readers who are nearby are welcome to come and celebrate with me. They can email me at zaria@zariagarrison.com and I’ll be sure to send them an invite with all the details.

They can also find me online at my website www.zariagarrison.com or my magazine website www.ekgliterarymag.com

Watch the trailer for Prodigal

Prodigal...coming soon

Phylicia Morgan and Phoebe Cox are twin sisters whose relationship has

been tumultuous since the womb. As they grow into womanhood the

tension between them boils over as they both share an identical love for the same man.

The Reverend Gary Morgan is a devoted husband, a caring father, and

most of all, a pious man of God. He's spent his entire life burying an

intimate mistake in his past but the moment he walks in on his wife,

Phylicia, arguing with her estranged twin sister, his buried memories begin

rapidly surfacing.

This retelling of the Biblical story the Prodigal son adds a dramatically

modern twist to the separation of the siblings and their eventual return back into God’s fold.

Prodigal in stores Nov 09

Available for pre-order at Amazon.com

www.zariagarrison.com