Most wonderful time of the year

Season's greetings, China!

The Christmas holiday season is my favorite time of the year. I absolutely love it because it is when most people spend time with their family and friends.

Also, during Christmas, we are reminded of God's greatest gift to the world, which was the birth of his son, Jesus Christ.

We, who are Christians, believe scripture in the Bible which states Jesus lived on earth for 33 years so ultimately we could become saved and live eternally.

I am grateful to God for the awesome gift of His son!

This holiday season, I am also very thankful and I feel blessed to share time with my wife, children and my mom. Their presence is the best present I could have ever asked for.

The icing on the cake is that my mom will be here in China to celebrate her favorite day, which is her birthday, on Dec 27.

Normally, I would speak to my mom online via Skype during Christmas and her birthday. But, this year she is here with me to celebrate both occasions. I will have to get my mother something really nice for her special day.

My mother is just like a child when it comes to her birthday. She will get mad if she doesn't receive gifts on her birthday.

My mom says that we — her seven children — have 364 days to buy her gifts, and she should not have to wait until the day after her birthday to receive her presents because Dec 28 is not her birthday …that's my mom.

Watching her and my son together recently truly made my heart swell. My mom's tender embrace of my son as he was laying on her brought back memories of when I was a young boy and used to lay on when my family lived in Apartment 4-G, Building 3, Surfside Gardens in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.

There is nothing like a mother's love, and I will be first to tell you that it has been wonderful having my mommy here to share her love with me in China.

I am also glad that my mom is now bearing witness to the love of the Chinese people that I often spoke about during our many long telephone conversations. She can feel the love and passion, and now she understands why I have chosen to continue my pro basketball career here.

She has said she can see I am more peaceful and calm and have nothing but love for the country and the CBA.

It was important to me for my mom to know this because that makes me now feel more comfortable with living in China after basketball.

In basketball news, my Ducks had been playing well until our most recent game. We won three straight home games. Those victories were crucial, especially as we have had to travel south to battle two very good teams. Unfortunately, we suffered a tough road loss to the Dongguan Leopard on Sunday night. We were just outplayed.

Hopefully, we will redeem ourselves in the championship rematch against the Guangdong Southern Tigers. That game will be televised live on CCTV5. Tipoff is 7:35 pm today. A win against the Tigers would be a nice Christmas gift.

Well, I hope you enjoy your Christmas holiday, eating good food and spending time with family and friends.

Love is love.

Always, Starbury

Stephon Marbury can be reached at sports@chinadaily.com.cn.