But as I got older and became ninang to many, Christmases pounced more like hurricane Pablo, mercilessly tearing my highly fortified wallet and poise.
Always hurried to buy this or that gift for someone or ourselves after receiving our 13th month cash downpour, İ always ended up with—horrors!—comatose, er… flatlined finances.
Compounding my yulelistlessness was the need to rush from one Christmas party to another. İf you were employed in a company like the last İ worked with, we head office types had to make our presence felt in as many facilities’ parties as possible. Add to these your “obligation” to attend family and friends’ events, and you had a recipe for one humongously migrainous holiday.
But İ’ve for sometime been singing a different Christmas carol.
“God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour…”
None of these words suggest “shop and spend like crazy,” or “party, eat and drink like there’s no tomorrow.” “Frenzy” is not in the Christmas dictionary.
Christmas is about Jesus, the Son of God, forsaking His heavenly glory to save sinful humanity. Ever since İ received Christ as my Lord and Savior, my Christmas took on new form, turning my everyday into Christmas.
“Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,” says the Bible (Romans 13:14). That suggests a daily camp-in with Jesus, because...
Everyday problems assault us. But with Christ, we overcome.
Tired from all your toiling? Jesus gives you peace within.
Sick? İ am healed by the stripes of Jesus.
So instead of making much ado about one special day, concern all your days with Jesus.
What Christ revealed of Himself in the bible, we chew on everyday. The more Christ-like we become, the more Christmas-sy our days turn.
So I can’t sulk at all that our two children and their families who live overseas won’t be home this Christmas. İ’m thankful enough for my recent opportunity to fly to the US and be Lola to my new granddaughter Natalie. Did we get to celebrate Christmas?
This APOstolic (apo is the vernacular for grandkid) mission was Christmas all the way. Everyday with apowas Jesus day: singing Jesus songs, praying Jesus’ Word, living Jesus’ character. The latter may sometimes be a struggle, but with Jesus in you, Christmas will definitely show up. This Lola’s back and knees might scream everytime I carried Natalie, but with the Christmas spirit in me, I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me.
A grandparent’s lap is the biggest lap in the world, İ wrote in my book “Grandparenting: Happiness and Hard Work.” Jesus’ lap is incomparable. And all of us are welcome there. That’s Christmas 24/7!
