A Different Christmas Eve 122405

Here’s something I wrote last Christmas Eve. Just posted this today since I didn’t have Internet connection that time.

Here you go:

It’s exactly 8:42 PM and it’s the 24th of December in the year of the Lord 2005 and yes, it’s a Christmas Eve as the title suggests.

Indeed, there’s always something new every Christmas Eve. 6 years ago, I remember celebrating the 1st Christmas Eve without Papa- the year of his death. 4 years ago, I was busy packing up for my 1st trip abroad (for an international debating tournament in Canada) on a Christmas Eve. On the same year, it was my first Christmas having a lover. A year after, we celebrated Christmas without Mama due to the drift we had. The succeeding year, it was a Christmas Eve when sparks of forgiveness have shown; yes, it meant celebrating Christmas again with my mom. Last year, I celebrated Christmas in our new home for we sold our big house after living there for 21 years. This year, it’s Christmas without my eldest sister as she just got married last week.

Truly, the universal truth about life is that change is the only constant thing in this world. Not to mention that it usually happens when you least expected it.

What happened in the past Christmas Eves are merely a depiction of whatever has transpired in my life over the years. These were moments that I never thought of happening. These were moments that have given me different reflections of life and its mysteries. It is also during the past Christmas Eves that I had different chances of knowing how I can touch the lives of the people who are important to me. So much so, that these moments gave me an opportunity to know myself better.

The one thing that I love the most about having these realizations every Christmas Eve is that it’s the time of the year that shows me the icon of hope – the Child in the manger. It just basically means that the Lord keeps on reminding me that no matter how difficult life may seem, He will always be beside me to engage these changes. That no matter how triumphant I can become, the same Child in the manger is giving me a message that humility is still the most striking virtue there is – for he was not born in a comfortable situation like most of us and yet the whole world has rejoiced for His birth.

There’s just something about Christmas Eves and the major changes in our lives. Maybe because the Lord was born to give us hope and He just gives us a brand new hope each year – that’s why every year, we embark into something different.

I wouldn’t know how I’ll be spending the next Christmas Eve. But it’s gonna be a great one coz it’s the Lord who planned it for me.

~ by juandimarco on December 31, 2005.