City Girl, Country Home: Christmas

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Finding Jesus in the Flurry

"I’m participating in the Keeping Christ in Christmas Blog Carnival, hosted by Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints, Truly Rich Mom and Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families. We'll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Jesus as the Reason for the Christmas season. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of carnival entries.”

Just came home from dinner with my Bible cell group, and we shared about our Christmas reflections. In the midst of cute stuffed Santas hovering over the lamps and the aroma of Japanese food in the air, I shared how important it is to deliberately find Jesus in all the busyness and distractions of this season. Especially at this time when the darkness seems to be magnified due to current events (read: death toll rising due to Typhoon Pablo here in the Philippines; the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting incident in the US), all the more reason for us to shine the light of Jesus to bring hope to this world.

O holy night

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth...

A thrill of hope

The weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks

A new and glorious morn

— from the song “O Holy Night”

We can’t just fall victim to our circumstances, I shared, with layers of distractions and burdens covering the true meaning of Christmas. We can’t allow the evil one to steal our joy and we can’t simply resign ourselves to grapple through these few days leading to Christmas. If we think we’ve somehow already missed the Christmas spirit, we can ask the Lord to redeem the time that we think was messed up. But we must celebrate now, at this moment, for it’s Jesus’ birthday. It’s all about Him. We need to look for that quiet place within us, even in the chaos surrounding us. And even in all that we see, we can find Jesus.

We walked out of the restaurant and one among us mentioned how beautiful the decorations of the mall were. I looked up to see floor upon floor adorned with red ornaments and Christmas lights. Such a festive sight! This just reminded me again of the Light of the World — He it is who brings us hope.

There is still time to find Jesus in the flurry. But maybe it only takes a few minutes of quiet in your heart and a sincere desire to seek the Christ of Christmas.

Jesus, everything is so busy around me. I quiet my heart right now. Please let me know You are near. And grant me Your peace. Amen.

For more inspiration regarding Christmas, check out these other posts:

Don't Miss a Thing this Christmas!

What Christmas Rush?

Wide-eyed Wonder

The "Frugirl's" Guide to Christmas Decorating

Here are the links to the other blog carnival participants. I hope you'll take the time to visit them and leave a comment on their posts! :) The list will be updated throughout the day, so please do come back and check on them. God bless us all!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Wide-eyed Wonder

I recently came across a beautiful quote from a book authored by Bishop Fulton J Sheen: “God walks into your soul with silent step. God comes to you more than you go to Him. Never will His coming be what you expect, and yet never will it disappoint. The more you respond to His gentle pressure, the greater will be your freedom.”

I especially love the part that says, “Never will His coming be what you expect, and yet never will it disappoint.” I love how God surprises His people, especially during this season. Consider how He surprised Mary with the news that she would be the mother of the Savior. Or how He surprised Joseph with that kind of news (OK, that was totally major!). Or how He surprised the shepherds and the Three Wise Men that the Messiah was born. But doesn’t it also surprise us that they saw in this little Baby the promise of hope? They saw.

Do we see? Do we notice? Do we pay attention? If our eyes are truly open, then we shall see.

If you watched “Rise of the Guardians,” you know that North (the Russian Santa character) is one whose core is filled with wonder. I can relate with him, as I’ve been praying that I not miss a thing this Christmas season. True enough, I’ve been encountering God’s surprises recently in so many ways. Here are a few:

• Through the heartfelt and inspiring messages spoken during our office Christmas party

• Through the students who came Christmas caroling at the office

• Through a friend who came to share some delicious chocolate cupcakes (still at the office)

• Through the song that my sister and I sang during our community Christmas party the following day (we sang “Grown-up Christmas List,” which talks about not being jaded but still being able to dream. )

Just a side note: my sister and I have been singing
together since we were kids :)

• Through an encouraging word from someone

• Through an answered prayer

Seemingly normal occurrences can very well be God’s gifts to us. But only when we unwrap them with our sense of wonder and spiritual inquisitiveness will we be able to see and appreciate them for all that they’re worth. Perhaps they are indeed filled with joy, with hope, with love.

God, please gives us that wide-eyed wonder. Give us eyes to see. Amen.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

What Christmas Rush?

This is what I have not yet
accomplished fully;
that'll follow, for sure

OK, I have a confession to make: I am so far from having checked all the names on my Christmas gift list. But for some reason, I feel no pressure. As people were distributing gifts during yesterday’s Christmas party at our Catholic community’s homebase, I was receiving and saying, “Thank you!” Of course, I had prepared gifts for the exchange gift part, but other than that, I wasn’t giving away gifts just yet (OK, there’s still next week…).

Part of me kinda wonders why I am not experiencing the proverbial Christmas rush. Maybe the provincial life has caught up on me, that of being laid back, I think to myself. Or maybe I am just deliberately sparing myself from unnecessary stress as I choose to savor the season. What also assures me is that at least (or at best?) I have a birthday gift for Jesus (He’s the first One on my Christmas gift list; after all, it is His birthday we’re celebrating). The rest will follow.

For the record, and now that I think of it, I have been quite busy lately — two weekends ago, we had houseguests who stayed with us for three days, and two of those days were spent bringing them around the countryside; the week after, aside from my usual domestic and work-at-home concerns, I held an ukay-ukay (kind of like a garage/yard sale) at home (I do this every so often); that same week, my husband and I organized the Christmas party for our community branch; and the following morning, we packed (mostly my son’s clothes and some toys) for our afternoon flight back to the city. Now that I’m back in the city, I’ve already attended two Christmas parties and I’m also back working in the office.

In this busyness, I actually do not feel the rush! And now it dawns on me that for the past four days that I have been in the city, I’m even able to exercise outside every morning and just enjoy talking to God.

So there, it is possible to not have the Christmas rush!

I guess it’s all in the focus. A friend of mine said that she’s decided to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament each day to free her from all the distractions. Another said that she would concentrate on helping others in need this Christmas. As for me, I’ve determined to seek the Lord even more this season, to recognize God’s surprises (more on that in my next blog post) and to enjoy it as much as I can.

When we focus on what really matters during Christmastime, then there really isn’t any room for the rush.

Feeling the Christmas rush? Then maybe it’s time for some hush. Ask the Prince of Peace to fill your heart and soul. And pray this prayer with me: Dear Jesus, Christmas is all about You. Help me to not get distracted by the many concerns of the holidays. Help me focus on You. As I put You first during this season of Your birth, I know everything else will fall into place. Thank You so much! Amen.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Don’t Miss a Thing this Christmas!

Happy Second Sunday of Advent!

I’m back in the urban city for the holidays. Just had a nice, morning walk at the village park. I always enjoy these times of exercise because these are also times when I spend time praying and reflecting. I couldn’t help but notice and thank God for the various trees lining the sidewalk. I think I have a favorite one now (I don’t even know what kind of tree it is); it’s this certain one that has a massive trunk and branches stretching out in such artistry. When I look up, its branches and leaves cover such a wide area; simply beautiful!

Yesterday morning, while still at the countryside and at about the same time, I had just come home from Mass and was enjoying the cool December breeze. Then, while I was standing at my backyard facing the fields, a flock of white birds began gliding through the air. I ran to take a closer look; simply beautiful!

God’s touch is all around. Nature takes no effort in displaying His glory, for that’s what it was made for.

But God’s touch is also within. And this season, I’ve been telling the Lord, “Lord, I don’t want to miss a thing!” Not so much the parties, the gift-giving, the colors and lights. But, “Lord, I don’t want to miss a thing with regard to what You want to tell me this season of Your birth. I don’t want to miss a thing with regard to all that You have in store for me.”

This comes only by spending time with Him. For me, this is what makes Christmas most special — spending time with the Birthday Celebrant, asking Him what He wants for His birthday, allowing Him to refresh my spirit.

I have a favorite spot in my country home. It’s a sofa in the living room. It’s the place where I pray most times, because when I sit there, I can easily see our altar. And it’s there where I get to “hear” Him speak to me, in my heart.

Altar at home

Of course, I sense His presence in so many other places and hear Him speak in so many ways. Just like now. I’m now seated on another sofa, in a smaller living room, surrounded by beautiful floral arrangements (my mom’s biz, actually). And yet, when I read today’s Mass readings, whoa! God’s Word became so alive! For instance, today’s response: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3). I can only agree!

So to me, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t spend time with the Celebrant. This is what makes all the difference for me. Try it out, and see how much deeper and more meaningful your Christmas will be!

Let every heart prepare Him room. — from “Joy to the World”

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” (Luke 3:4)

Passage

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Finding Jesus in the Flurry

Monday, December 17, 2012

Wide-eyed Wonder

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

What Christmas Rush?

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Don’t Miss a Thing this Christmas!