Hope You Had A Blessed Christmas

I don't think I've ever been this busy while in Manila. Usually, this blog does not get updated for days when I am off on a trip.

This year, I wasn't off on any trip but the days were just too hectic and tiring. Work was busier than ever, with meetings up until December 23. I also had to catch up on sleep as I completed the nine day dawn masses known as Simbang Gabi. In between, I met up with a few friends, helped the kids with their school work, promoted my Mom's A Stewardess book, ordered or bought gifts to give away, and frantically wrapped them until December 24. I haven't even finished wrapping. Some get-togethers are scheduled in early January so those gifts will get wrapped a day or so before.

Still, despite the hustle and bustle of everything; despite not being able to write; despite my body being tired and lacking sleep, my Christmas was merry and blessed. I hope it was for you too, my dear viloria readers. So even if this greeting is a bit delayed, my family wishes all of you a blessed Christmas and a great 2009 ahead.

Everyone keeps talking about a global financial crisis. Everybody says that 2009 will be a difficult year. It is good to be prudent but it is not proper to be overly negative. And so, as most people think that 2009 will be bleak, I think that it will be a great year, no matter what it may bring. After all, difficult and bleak are just functions of how we define good or great to be. For as long as we remember, that each year is the year of the Lord then what is there to be fear? All things work for good for those who are called according to the Lord's purpose. And that doesn't mean getting what you want all the time. Or being happy all the time. Or things going according to your plan every time. But it does mean remembering that no matter what happens to you, the Lord has a plan. Just think Mary and Joseph. That's what Christmas is all about.

And so, we greet all of you a blessed Christmas. We'd like to share a piece by the famous Author Unknown (can you believe how many great pieces he has written - I am envious!) just to put things in proper perspective no matter how you find your circumstances to be:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem, not to mention that Friday at Calvary?
Face it friend, He's crazy about you.

So, amidst this crazy, rough-and-tumble world, rest easy in that thought. May the Lord's choicest blessings be upon you and your families. Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!