The gift unwrapped for the world

                                             

For every happy ending there also comes a new beginning. Right after we ended the ordinary liturgical year, we enter and welcome with gladness and excitement for the season of Advent.

Christmas season is the merriest and the busiest time of the year. Christmas spirit in the Philippines is celebrated the longest. As early as September people are busy putting glittering Christmas decors in their homes, malls and different private and public establishments. Christmas lights are found in streets, parks and plazas. Christmas songs are played over the music radio stations as they melt our hearts with their never fading melodies. And this is what I love about Christmas in the Philippines as it is felt everywhere you go. It just gives positive vibes and emotions, relieves stress and and gives an unexplainable joy in our hearts. This is also the perfect time for family bonding and reunions. Christmas just gathers and binds family together near and far. Christmas heals family. It brings forgiveness and reconciliation for families having gaps and misunderstanding. The message of Christmas is just deep and wide.

And more than just the physical appearance and preparation we must not forget the very essence of this festive season is the preparation from inside our hearts to be ready to receive the unwrapped gift born in a humble manger with gladness and pure heart. The core message of Christmas is giving and sharing. When there is sharing there is love, when there is love, there is hope and joy and when there is joy there is peace.

May the joy of the birth of baby Jesus never fade in our lives so we can always rise up to mission to spread the message of love and hope to others not only at Christmas but everyday of our lives.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a bountiful new year!

     

               

Lynn Salinas-Batoliño
The Philippines

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