A couple of days ago, one of my coworkers told me she always gets depressed about Christmas. Just thinking about buying presents for her children, family members, friends and everybody else in the whole wide world makes her sick. Sounds familiar? What is it about this snow ball that society rolls down the hill to catch everybody in its way? Are we agents of our lives or there is someone or something else trying to live our lives? I think we should be in charge of creating the dream Christmas we want to live and share with our families. So, let’s revive creativity! Dare to be!
This year we have an additional factor: a good dose of adversity and hardships worsens the matter... or not. I am personally grateful for the hard times, adversity or challenges (too many for me to count), because they help us go back to the basics, grow from the inside out. Everyone gets what he or she needs in life because God knows us well, and gives us opportunities to learn about and develop ourselves. When I'm in tune, I too know. I’ve learned to accept gracefully whatever may come because in the end I always realized that it has been the best for me, even & especially, when it tasted bitter. This holiday season we may not be free from experiencing some kind of hard times, either ourselves or close to home. So let’s revive courage and will! Dare to face it with gratitude and humility! Dare to be!
But remember, challenges are opportunities to go back to the basic meaning of the celebrations. All belief systems accept that "true love never faileth" (1 Cor 13:8) , which is the underlying meaning of Christmas, a celebration of the Love of God who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son [to save it]” (Jn 3:16) . From my experience, happiness comes when one learns how to love. If you believe in God, tap into the treasure of His Love. Have the courage to breathe deeply, to live in the present, to love intensely, to laugh loudly, and to BE. And let your loved ones enjoy the gift of your being! Dare to be! A few years ago, I discovered the tale The Gift of the Magi, a sweet Christmas story. It shows us that it really does not matter what materials things we buy, ultimately, what touches our hearts is the love that we give each other. It reminds us that what really makes a difference in enjoying the season is the gift of our time, of our life, of our talents, of OURSELVES. After all, isn't it what life is all about, just LOVE yourself and others to learn how to love God? Dare to love! I wish you peace and love every step of your way now and beyond this Holiday Season. May that peace make you a feather in God’s breath. Dare to be what He wants you to be!
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