What I Believe Christmas Is All About
I’m writing this the day after Christmas (well, actually, it’s still Christmas — at least for us Catholics, since the Christmas season only ends on the Feast of the Epiphany {Three Kings}).
Our small, cozy apartment is in a mess — the Christmas gift wrappers are still scattered about, opened Christmas gifts have still not been kept in their appropriate places, and the two rooms upstairs are in need of a good cleaning-cum-organizing.
My husband (sweet, loving man that he is) has brought our two children to my in-laws’ place so I can write and work in peace — though every inch of my body is screaming for me to lie down and rest, since I’ve been nursing a bad cold and cough since the weekend before Christmas, not to mention a nasty lower backache (my OB-gyne advised me to take “uterine relaxant†medicine when it got too bad).
Late last Thursday, we rushed our little girl to the emergency room because she kept vomiting, and her pediatrician had advised the ER trip to make sure she wasn’t dehydrated. Thank God she wasn’t and we were able to go home after a few hours.
It was a whirlwind of activity after that. My parents were so kind as to help us in caring for our daughter and we also did some last-minute preparations and shopping for our simple Christmas celebration at home. I was able to squeeze in a Christmas Eve blog post, where I recounted some of our blessings for the year, and sent out Christmas wishes and prayers.
Our Christmas Eve was spent with my parents and youngest brother at our humble home. We opted to have an early family dinner instead of the Noche Buena at midnight and kept our fare simple, in the spirit of being “one†with our countrymen in need, especially the victims of the recent typhoon Pablo.
Soon after, we said our family prayers, lit our Christ candle (a new family tradition for this year) and let the kids open a few of their gifts. The rest of the gifts were only opened after we had attended Holy Mass on Christmas morning.
At around 10 p.m., my dad joined Anthony, the kids and me to my in-laws’ place (we just crossed the street to get to the compound where their house is located). My mom was too tired to go with us, so my brother stayed to keep her company.
We got back to our place just in time to put up our “Happy Birthday Jesus†decorations and catch the Christmas Eve Mass on ABS-CBN. We were tearful when it came to the part when Fr. Jerry Orbos encouraged everyone to greet one another Merry Christmas — especially my parents. I think they were thinking of my older sister and brother and their families, who are in Brunei and Valenzuela respectively as I write this, plus their own siblings and parents. Christmas is usually a time for huge family reunions on my side of the family, especially the Santiagos. This year though, there was no family reunion.
Still, despite our “quieter†and “simpler†Christmas celebration, and the fact that I have to work the day after Christmas (don’t a lot of us have to anyway?), I’m still grateful for the gift of faith, family and friends this special season.
And this, my dear friends, is what I believe Christmas is all about.
Being grateful.
Spending time with the people you love.
Living simply.
Counting our blessings.
Sharing our blessings with those in need.
Reminding ourselves and teaching our children that the best gift of all is… Jesus.
I hope you and your family are having a happy, holy Christmas, dear readers! And may your New Year be filled with peace, faith, hope, love and all sorts of blessings! (Oh, and may it be a SAFE one, too! Click here for some ways to have a fireworks-free New Year.)
P.S.
Why not continue the spirit of giving and sharing this season by making a difference in the lives of children affected by Typhoon Pablo? Here are some suggestions:
Donate to Gawad Kalinga and support their Paraisong Pambata project for children in Compostela, Compostela Valley, and Cateel, Davao Oriental. If you don’t make it in time for the December 28, you can still donate! More details on www.gk1world.com.
Donate learners’ kits to children affected by Typhoon Pablo. More details on the DepEd Philippines Facebook page.
