This Christmas was very different than all the past celebrations I’ve had. I’m not gonna pretend that it was awesome because duh I am not in the Philippines. Since I’m just starting out here in TH, money has been a struggle. For the first time, I really don’t have money for Christmas gifts or parties. My mom and I are living a very frugal life because we can’t afford to splurge any. Our salaries were not until the end of the month. But you know what we did? We rode a bus, went to Central World, strolled at the beautiful place seeing people from all over the globe smiling. It is Christmas anyway, it’s the happiest time of the year. Their happiness was like a virus! Me and my mom were so happy because it’s just the spirit surrounding us. Why should we be sad?
Since mom had to work the following day, we went home after eating street food. This Christmas may not be filled with the festivities that I was used to but I was thankful to God and happy that we got to feel the real essence of Christmas minus all the material things that I used to think made me happy.
I’m writing this because I know that not everyone gets to celebrate Christmas with the people they love. Not everyone gets to have a noche buena on their plate. Not everyone has the things that a lot of people are posting on Facebook.
Some people at that moment are brokenhearted, sick, hungry, and probably want to end their life. But if you have Jesus, no matter what circumstance you are in, you will feel His everlasting love. You will feel His arms embracing you and telling you that everything’s gonna be okay.
I don’t want to give you guys the image that my life is perfect because I’m in another country. My life is far from perfection. Just like anyone, I have loads problems but I don’t like dwelling on it. I post pictures of me smiling despite everything I’m going through. That smile, is also a gift from God. He always gives me reasons to smile no matter how shitty everything is.
So to us who celebrated Christmas without Noche Buena or without our loved ones, it’s definitely okay. The number of reasons to be happy still outnumbers the reasons to for us to be sad. And that is all that matters.
kate samaniego 