by Tanniah Marcelino Navarro
It is quite hard and challenging to celebrate when the year has been tough. A lot of bad news flooded our Facebook accounts from the pandemic. Some say, nagmukha nang obituary ang Facebook timeline nila due to posts about death of friends or even relatives. It detached us from the joy and peace we have. It’s always helpful to look back on God’s sustaining grace and faithfulness for the entire year and ponder on why we celebrate Christmas. So, Mommies, I would like to invite you to participate in this little activity that I want to do myself with my family this December and make our holidays more festive! You may do this at night before bedtime with a coffee, for the adults, and cocoa or warm milk for the kids.
First, learn a Christmas carol together. I suggest na namnamin ang bawat linya ng kanta, and share how the song impacted you. You may choose one song every week. Here are some of my personal favorites from timeless classics with beautifully penned words:
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Carol of the Bells
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Joy to the World
- Little Drummer Boy
- Mary Did You Know?
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- O Holy Night
- Silent Night
Secondly, read the gospel of Luke every day until Christmas. You may read a chapter a day or just choose one story from that chapter and ponder. Highlight a verse that stuck with you and discuss. When December 25th comes, Christmas Day, you should have finished the entire gospel and it is time to celebrate!
Thirdly, recall significant moments that happened last year. Access your Facebook memories as you try to remember. Write them down and share reasons to celebrate. Gather pictures and stories. We cannot help but also remember things that were hurtful like losing a loved one. I encourage you to use this time to pay tribute to them. There are 24 days until Christmas so, share some significant events that happened each month last year and list down God’s faithfulness that sustained you. This coming December 1 and 2, recall what happened in January 2021. December 3 and 4, February 2021; December 5 and 6 remember what happened in March 2021 and so on. By December 25th, you have reflected on the entire past year as a family.
Fourthly, documentation. Mommies, it is not too late to finally purchase a photo book/album and have it printed as a hardcopy. There are lots of suppliers online so you wouldn’t need to go out to do this. Mark it as “2021: the ‘Best Year Yet!’” or any other title you can think of.
And lastly, as the new year approaches, ask the Lord for the promise for the year 2022. Ask Him for His vision for you and your family. You may want to write it down and perhaps even make a board to emphasize the vision and mission He gives you for 2022, or you may highlight 10 goals you have for the year.
I hope that you find these suggestions worth your time. No matter how preoccupied we are and how challenging the year has been, we can never deny the loving presence of Jesus that sustained us. Let us fix our eyes on Him and what He has done and intentionally commemorate the real reason of Christmas.
