The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year ♥

With everything that happened this year, we have every reason not to celebrate Christmas... that is if we have forgotten the true reason for this season. But Fr. Benedict had reminded us time and again that no matter what difficulties we encounter throughout the year, we can never postpone Christmas. Yet, he challenged us not to forget our brothers and sisters who still suffer from the wrath of Yolanda and other calamities and those who seem to have been forgotten by society. He encouraged us to spend Christmas in a simple yet creative and meaningful way.

That's exactly what I did this year. Let me share three ways by which I celebrated the most wonderful time of the year. :)

1. Sort my things. Instead of spending time shopping (I don't have that much money to spend anyway. :D), I really took time to sort my things and look for items which I haven't used/no longer use/have no intention to use and give them to people who need them more. And there's just a lot of them. In fact, I was able to wrap "recycled" gifts for the whole family - Papa, Mama, Arnold, my Titas and cousins in Iloilo (which I gave to Tita Ana who went there last Monday), and my closest friends. Not a single peso was spent because even the wrappers were recycled. :)

Here's a more organized closet. :)

2. Cook for my family. Because of my busy schedule, I don't get to spend much time with my family. This season, I made up for the times when I haven't shown them enough love by cooking their favorite dish - my very own spaghetti! The original plan was just to order Bucket Meal from KFC or Jollibee but my brother insisted that I cook. Thanks to our Christmas package which includes almost everything we need for noche buena. We just bought ground beef and pork and hotdog. :) And because Ate Dimple gave us chocolate crinkles, I made my own "crinkles salad." :D

Try try ng bagong recipe pag may time. :)

3. Volunteer. It's not enough that we remember them, we must actively do something to alleviate their sufferings. Let's do whatever we can. There are a lot of ways to help. Ruth and I volunteered for Operation Blessing. You can, too. :) Sabi nga ng Coke, every act matters.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Especially when we remember the goodness of a God who never forgets. :) Thank You, sweet Jesus! ♥

CHRISTMAS PRAYER

R.L. Stevenson

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.

May Christmas day make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

Make my wish come true. All I want for Christmas is...

That I may continue to be loving, patient, understanding, and passionate. Nawa'y hindi ako mapagod magmahal at patuloy na sumunod sa kung ano man ang iutos Mo, Panginoon. Higit sa lahat, maipakilala nawa Kita sa lahat ng taong makakasama, makakausap, at makakasalamuha ko. Kung paanong minamahal Mo ako, nawa'y mahalin ko rin ang mga minamahal Mo. At siyempre, patuloy pa nawa akong maging malusog, malakas, maligaya, at handa sa lahat ng pagdaraanan ko pa sa aking paglalakbay kasama Ka.

Merry CHRISTmas! ♥

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