A moment when you finally see your relatives you have not seen for years, a time when the load of your work has gotten off from your shoulders (for a while), a chance to just hang out with your friends and visit every Shopping Mall and any place where your feet can take you, and a chance to exercise your vocal cords through your favorite Videoke songs...
Yes, you may agree with me that it is indeed the Christmas Season!
Christmas, in the Philippine setting, usually starts once the first -BER Month (September) flips on the calendar. September 1 sends off the signal (well.. in a subtle way) to various local Radio Stations to start playing songs like "A Perfect Christmas", "White Christmas", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", etc. And if you have been living here, moments like these trigger a nostalgic excitement to pull the hands of time to December 25, or at least December.
But if you have not recognized yet, will you still say that your Christmas is still "Merry" even if your family has been one of the victims of the devastating "Yolanda" typhoon last November? Will you still face your children with a smile on your face and greet them, even if you only have a couple of fish, tomatoes and eggs for your "Noche Buena"? Will you still have the courage to charge on to the coming new year, even if just two days before the Christmas eve, you got rejected by the person you like - breaking your heart apart?
These are questions of which almost all are difficult to answer, and cannot be patched with a simple advise of "Be optimistic! Be positive!" Now, how should I deal with these current and ongoing issues?
1. Face the reality. Accept the facts.
The fact is: these are real circumstances. Period. A lost of a loved one, extreme lack of "Traditional Christmas Dishes" like hams and cheese, and a heart break because of an unrequited love are real events. We cannot just neglect them if they really are existing, by just pretending as if we are just in a dream and these are not happening. Do you want to know the first step to really make the season "Happy"? It is to accept your real situation, and admit it to yourself. No sugarcoating. Tell it straight to yourself.
As one saying goes:
"The truth will set you free."
2. Recognize the real reason to be "Merry".
The truth is: all men are wretched and hopeless in their natural sinful state. The bad news, far deeper than the news of losing a loved one or state of being brokenhearted, is that we are totally depraved, and we need Jesus Christ in our lives. This is the reason for the season, that Jesus became a child but did not remain a child. He grew up, ministered through His teachings, healed the sick, performed great miracles, died an unimaginable death on the cross to pay for our sins, and was raised to life to show that through Him it was already possible to reconcile men to God (Holy and Just).
Jesus Christ died for the sins of many. By His grace, I hope that God would open your eyes to see His great love for you. I hope that through your faith, you would turn away from your sins, and surrender your life unto Him. Talk to Him today, my friend. He is ready to listen.
© 2013 Erickson Ibana
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