I once asked my ward why he is so excited waiting for Christmas Day. He innocently answered me with a smile, “Because I don’t need to go to school, I can play and Sta. Claus is coming with many gifts.” I told my ward, we are celebrating Christmas because it is Jesus’ birthday, the greatest gift of God to us.
How about you? Why do you celebrate Christmas?
Being an overseas worker, we could not attend the Christmas gatherings back home as we are away from our families. Though technology is nowadays so advanced that we can make a video call to see our family, it is far better if we can have a warm hug beside them. If you are lucky enough to have a good employer who can understand the happiness of being with the families this season, they will let you have a vacation.
Yes, we also have our second families here in the foreign land and we do also have a lot of friends to celebrate with, but we know in our hearts that there is still a feeling of emptiness being away from our families back home. I know that feeling because during the past two years I was not able to go home at Christmas.
But this year I am thankful to my employer gave me a vacation. Looking forward for the day of going home, I feel excited and keep thinking about how to celebrate Christmas with them.
Party and gift giving? Well yes! But I’m thinking more of how I can share with them the true meaning and reason for this season — Jesus Christ, the first gift we receive from God.
This Christmas, enjoy giving gifts to your loved ones but never lose sight of the reason for the giving — the love of God on his creation shown by the gift of his own Son to save us from our sin.
We give because he gave. May we worship him in gratitude!
Have a blessed Christmas season!
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Sheryl Reyes
Love of God Prayer Group
Choi Hung
