C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

C-hrist’s teachings. Imagine if we don’t have them to guide us, the world will be in chaos. Everyone can do anything. As we have seen, worst things are committed by bad men who seem to lack guidance from Jesus’ teachings.

H-ome. “Charity begins at home” should never remain a cliché. Values should be passed on to children by parents at home. Future parents must be loving, caring caretakers of homes and children.

R-eunions. Family and relatives reunite especially on Christmas Day to maintain close ties. It isn’t healthy though that success remains the rule in some gatherings of the lithe and lissome, where the “not-so-lucky” ones come only in trickles, being hesitant to be compared with the better-off members of the clan.

I-ntimacy. Christmas draws us intimately with our life and its Giver. As stated in Desiderata: “Be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”

S-haring. Strive to be merry not only during Christmas. By helping the poor and the lowly, we will be truly blessed and happy all-year long. If only the rich would think of sharing their rich luscious food on Christmas tables and fill them up on the tables of the poor, their homes would brighten up when Jesus’ birth has come.

T-oys. Even though Christmas relates with gift-giving like toys to children, they nevertheless give them joy. There is a burst of happiness when kids receive prettily wrapped gifts, which are for them far better than money.

M-idnight Mass. Catholics attend the first misa de gallo on Dec. 16 to begin the nine-day novena until Christmas Eve—a religious tradition that calls for repentance of wrongdoers and forgiveness to trespassers.

A-dornment. The frills, colors, and symbols of Christmas add merriment to everyone during the Yuletide season, but more importantly, we must never forget the real message of the birth of Christ who carried the Cross and died to save the sins of mankind.

S-anta Claus. His mission of giving reminds us that it is more blessed than receiving. Santa Claus isn’t a myth as many believe. It is a popular name given to St. Nicolas, who created the Nicene Creed, the patron saint of Russia, children, sailors, students and other vagabonds. He was born around A.D. 280 in Asia Minor and became bishop of Myra (Demre).

PIT M. MALIKSI