A CHRISTMAS TRADITION OF JOY AND LOVE

By: Norberto Betita

We are now celebrating the time of peace, love, joy and gladness and the glorious moments of gift giving and sharing one’s abundance to the least. But even in this season of love, cheers and happiness, the world is shrouded with news events of continued trouble, hatred, greed and ruthless injustice to the hungering and materially depressed poor.

At this time of the blessed season, whether we are like the rich academics wise men or the poor shepherds watching in the field, let us not be disturbed by the endless greed and corruption and cacophonies in the world. Let us temporarily forget all the darkness, troubles and gloom that try to envelope the earth, and instead focus our attention on the transcendent gift from Heavenly Father of a Savior, the light of the world, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ should be central to our celebrations, as it is declared, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Let us then allow the perpetual light of Christ which shines not only on this blessed season of the year, but the whole year through, to encompass our celebrations of the blessed season with peace and love; joy and gladness. Let us remember the words of the angel, on that first Christmas morn to the poor “shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night,” (Luke 2:8), who said, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11).

Let us, therefore, rejoice as did the “multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14).

The story of the first Christmas, as long since written by prophets before it actually happened, selected the stable and the lowly manger as its most humble scene. And the first ever visitor of the Lord Jesus Christ were the poor shepherds. Yet, He was the prophesied King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the everlasting gift for all, both for the rich and for the poor. His coming as the Light and Savior of the world is Heavenly Father’s example of the spirit of gift giving, with a message of joy to the world.

Therefore, even in our destitute circumstances, we can, in an attitude of generosity and benevolence, establish a Christmas tradition of joy and love. Throughout history, Christmas stories were written with a message of joy in giving and in receiving. It is in itself a special gift for the giver, when the beneficiary receives the gift with gratitude, as much as it is a gift for the receiver to know that he is loved and therefore, learns to be willing to extend the same generosity and love to others. It is in generous giving that we learn to be more charitable, and it is in grateful receiving of the gift, that we learn to share and give to others.

The recollections of the past several Christmases once again radiate the wondrous experience of working with a very kindhearted and generous old farmerette of a Second Chance ranch, halfway across the world, whose ministering efforts to give joy and love on Christmas to the poor and needy extends beyond boundaries of oceans and continents. It all started when she served as a welfare missionary about 33 years ago in 1986, in the City of Surigao, Philippines.

Her ever benevolent heart was touched by the pathetic physical conditions of the people she met. The miserable situations of the families she daily visited during her stint as a missionary, stretched the boundary of her love and desire to reach out to people she doesn’t even know. Her love and concern for their welfare penetrate into her physical system as to always remind her of the choking clutch of poverty they suffer. But she was just a poor farmerette and her resources are limited. However, notwithstanding her financial constraints, she desired to share of her meager resources, not only during the blessed season, but also on occasions when she knows of an spiritual need, and thus, established for herself a Christmas tradition of joy and love.

As a faithful follower, she knows of the joy and gladness that come from the light of Jesus Christ. She wanted to share such light to provide glitters of joy during the blessed season, in the lives of those who are sheltered under the dark shadows of poverty. Thus, during those many Christmases and even during other seasons of the year, she sends her gifts to her appointed Santa and elves, whom she assigned to give Christmas presents to the needy souls. In all her charitable commitment, she doesn’t want to be identified.

She’s now 82 years old, but her kind-hearted nature remains ever vibrant and her light gleams increasingly as she continues to receive the blessings of joy and happiness attendant to her generous giving at Christmas time or even beyond the holiday season. She continues to brim with happiness as the transcendent gift of the light of Christ ever fills her heart. She feels to find her own person as she lose herself in generosity and service to others.

The wonder of her personality is that, despite her advanced age she never missed church. She continued to serve and magnify her callings in the church. She served in the temple for more than 15 years and train temple workers. She does her ministering 100%. She even participates in the choir.

As a friend of the family we are so deeply grateful of her continued love and friendship, which since that first short association in 1986, we have never personally connected with each other except in the mails and social media, not even on the phone. We are grateful for her trust which to us is even greater than being loved. We admired and always treasured the inspired life that she shared with us for the last many years. We are thankful that we had been 33 years part of her personal history.

She admits with humility her present limitations, but still, in acts of generosity, she again commissioned us, as it was in previous years, to act as her Santa and elves, to deliver her gifts to the needy beneficiaries. We are in deep gratitude of her example of service and charity, which noble attribute had since been a part of our lives. It doesn’t matter if we don’t have the traditional Christmas tree and decorations this blessed day. What matters most is that we shared a portion of what we have to those who needed the most as a Christmas tradition of joy and love, sharing not just the light that glitters to adorn, but the real light that shines from the true and real Light of the World---the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul so clearly taught: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35).

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!