The Real Meaning of Christmas–HOPE, LOVE and PEACE in our hearts
Posted on December 24, 2007
Filed Under Celebration, Faith and Spirituality, Friends, LIFE, Parenting and Family, Thoughts | Viewed 991 times
The past month found me very very busy, deep in work, no distinction of day or night, not sensitive of what was happening around me. Seeing the family members coming and going, from work, school, gimmicks, with their classmates, friends, paying household bills, tuition fees, and all the other expenses related to living a daily life. All these have become mechanical to me—where is the heart?
Yes, I am guilty! Now, talk about retiring early. It has been more than a year now since I left the corporate life. Son BA has asked, Monica has asked, and all the other kids have asked, “Mom, we thought you have gone on early retirement. Now,why are you working harder than ever?!” Still I was not moved with their probing.
And last night, when all of the kids have gone out with their Dad, while I stayed behind at home—ALONE, typing away on my MacBook (my ever constant companion 24/7 the past month), I realized that it was just a day away from Christmas eve. What was I doing, alone at home?
I began to ask myself, “why?” Was it because of the financial rewards that came along with working so hard and working for long hours? Was it because I was still in denial of the pains of recent events? Work, or I mean hard work, they say is anaesthetic to pains and hurts—it shuts one’s mind out of the world. Was it because of the satisfaction that I gained from being able to help other people through part time jobs?
Typing has turned to tinkering, going from Mozilla to Firefox, from Word to Excel, from Yahoo to Gmail, to Paypal to Wordpress—my monitor has become blurry, words, graphics, pictures have become meaningless. And I thought, for the first time in many months, I have not cried, are tears now falling down my pretty (still vain!) face?
And I thought hard. Come to think of it. BA was right, when he said that I have not been writing meaningfully the past 2 months, since our Angel Michael went away. All the creative juices in me must have been zapped out of my system! Replaced with mechanical even technical writing. Must I have lost my gusto, my heart for my passion—which is writing?
As to my LIFE, have I lived it the way it should be? Yes I have lived life the way it should be, I told myself. But again, HAVE I? Questions, questions and more questions. I didn’t find answers. It was almost 8 pm, and I had to go to church for the last day of Simbang Gabi (the traditional 9-day Dawn Mass)—ALONE, 
for the very first time. Angelo could not fetch me, as he and his family had to go straight to UP Church from another place, and my other family members were out in Trinoma. I was lucky to catch a cab.
For the very first time in 9 days while in church, I felt in my heart the real meaning of Christmas—a renewal, of HOPE, LOVE and then PEACE. The readings and the priest’s sermon struck deep in my heart. I have found the answers to my questions, I have come to terms with myself. I have found peace. I realized that I am more than blessed—I have my husband, my mother, my Angelo, Monica, BA, Vince, Angela, Pauline and Alan Jr. Material blessings, yes, we have them. But more than that, I have my family, I have my meaningful loving friends, we have Angelo’s family (Caren, Pia and Cate), we have our Angel Michael in heaven, and most of all, we have God in the center of our lives.
I came home to an empty house, but I was fine. After the family arrived, we said our evening prayers, and everyone went to do their own thing, others on their computers, others watching TV, or playing games, while I again was with my MacBook. To the kids who were awake, I told them of my Christmas wish, tears falling down my pretty face—that they grow more in faith, looking not to a material undertaking, but past the superficial. Sharing with each other their material possessions, like sharing laptops or desktops if the others are broken or not working.
Driving for their siblings without heated arguments, trying to understand each other. Appreciating what we have rather than focusing on what we do not. To help themselves, not to be carried away with the challenges that they face as students and as social beings. I told them how they sometimes hurt my feelings, I knew I also hurt theirs.
Finally, to please not to forget that I, their Mom, even their Dad and Mommylola—the adults in their lives, need their attention and understanding, in the same way that they need ours. Their Christmas wish for me? I knew it, I felt it in my heart—that I live my life, the way I have always had: BEING THE BEST MOM IN THE WORLD, plus they say, good health, and more SMILES. How I love my FAMILY.
Phew! It has been an emotional night, but truly a healing one.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE May your Christmas also be filled with HOPE, LOVE AND PEACE!
Related
- Thoughts of Christmas and Mary’s Dream
- MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!
- Peace and Quiet
- HOPE: As certain as the sun sets–so will it rise the next day
- Starting to Live Life the Way It Should Be Lived
- Previous post: Lantern Parade in UP–Fun time with my little one
- Next post: Keeping together ONE big happy family–HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!
- More articles at the archives
- Jobs and Business Opportunities for Probloggers @ The J Spot
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About Me
Dine Racoma is Sexy Mom, a Filipina doing what she likes best—writing, her passion. She writes freelance, does research, advises on new media, and manages a virtual assistance office for home-based jobs. A mother of 7 (what joy!) foremost, a wife, MIL, grandma to 2 pretty girls and an angel in heaven, sister, daughter, friend. Was in the corporate world for 27 years, the first 5 as Executive Secretary to an affiliate of the country’s biggest drug chain, and the last 22 as an international civil servant in an international development bank with HQ in Manila. Traveled extensively to many countries bringing about rich experiences and lessons learned to share with dear Readers. All these—in The D Spot
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Merry Christmas, Sexy Mom! Wishing you all the best for 2008!
Merry Christmas, Tita Dine! May we all have a blessed and wonderful time.
Nothing’s wrong with working hard. The important thing is to balance all aspects of our life. But you already know that, don’t you?
Happy Holidays, Ms. Dine!
Hi Tita Dine, just dropping by to say Happy Christmas to you and your family!
Hi Dine. Wishing you and your whole family a beautiful Christmas.
I know you’ve been through a lot lately. I know that you work hard for your family. Sometimes we become too busy and it’s good to realize that quality time is always something to treasure more than anything. God bless you and your loved ones. Take care.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
hi mommy dine! i wish that you’ll have your wishes. have a truly blessed Christmas!
A meaningful Christmas to you and your family Dine!
I’ve been out of the corporate world for over 13 years; succeeded in some post retirement pursuits and failed (financially) in some. Now, I am trying to learn new skills to recover and be useful once more to my family.
Your blog today gives me meaty food for thought. Thanks for sharing and hope to meet you in person someday soon.
Si mama pinatamaan ng pari sa homily. Heehee
A very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year to you and your family.
Merry Christmas, sexy Family!
Hi Tita Dine! I just want to thank you for giving me an opportunity to work with you this year. I’ve learned a lot talaga and I was able to identify my weakness – tardiness haha
I am really happy and grateful to you. Someone also told me about my entries sa blog ko na parang less family entries na nasusulat ko samantalag before yun ang top priority ko. Oh well.. I guess we all have to go back to “creative” writing haha 
Thanks talagaTita hope to see you before we leave pabalik ng Dagupan. Merry Christmas to you and ur family!
God Bless you Dine…. He loves us so! Merry Christmas.
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up….The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time….Belated Merry Christmas…..
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family Dine!
Merry Christmas!
Anyway, that was a little late since I was back home before Christmas and did not have access to an internet connection. Well, I hope the celebrations for you and family was filled with joy!
(:
A blessed Christmas and a bountiful New Year! (just got home from bicol)
Oh Dine, sometimes we are so wrapped up in our work and its benefits that we tend to block out the reason why we work so hard and what is really more important, more essential: our family.
I too am guilty of that sometimes.
I wish you and your family the best in 2008!
I hope you had the very Best Christmas and a Fantastic New Year!
Happy happy New Year to you Mommy Dine! All the best to you and to your family this 2008, and as always.
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