๐พ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ช๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง. ๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐๐ช๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐. ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐. ๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐พ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐พ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐.
Family is forever, and yes, they are in the Philippines. I felt a little despondent on my first Christmas in Canada. It was not something I expected or wanted.
There's no 'Noche Buena' culture here, a tradition in the Philippines where families gather for a festive meal on Christmas Eve. It's quiet, and people prefer to be at home for some reason.
Is Christ present during our darkest times, when we feel down and don't feel good about ourselves?
There's more love in the Philippines during Christmas, so we dwell on our home country's most meaningful and memorable moments.
We feel good and brighten the darkness whenever we reminisce about the good Christmas moments.
Our family, no matter where they are, is a source of understanding and comfort. Christmas is the most special day of the year when we remember and talk to them. It's a time to share our joys and sorrows, our thoughts and feelings. Our family is our anchor, and their love and support make the distance feel a little less.
All I want this Christmas is to feel the presence of Christ. His love and the Holy Spirit to guide and lift me. Others may have forgotten and been blinded by their priorities, but we can't follow their path. They always have the choice to make beyond our control.
I still want to feel the bright side of Christmas, the joy and love that it brings. The ups and downs, the challenges and the loneliness, will always be there, but Christ will be in our hearts, guiding us through.
In his message this year, the Pope reminded us, "Even in dark times, never lose hope in God's love." It's a powerful reminder that there is always light, even in our darkest hour. This Christmas, let's hold on to this hope and let it guide us through the challenges we face.
©️ 2022 Del Cusay