Two Faces of Christmas

I am having mixed emotions this holidays.

I am crushed with the floods that have affected two of my homes- Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. It's been several days since it happened but I can't seem to shake off the sadness this tragedy has brought. It doesn't help that everyday, there are photos and vids of the devastation posted on Facebook. There are just so many of my friends and relatives affected that although we are so many miles away, it feels like we are there, experiencing this tragedy with our kababayans. I have spent four and a half years of my college life in Iligan and established a home in Cagayan de Oro for ten happy years. I just can't begin to imagine the devastation, much more the pain and uncertainty people have been facing back home. It is massive beyond belief. 

I watched Philippine news this morning and I am amazed and very proud of the resiliency of the victims.  I haven't seen anyone blame God. Instead, there is just gratefulness to be alive despite having lost everything and more importantly, there is hope that they will rise above this tragedy. Makes me proud to be a Filipino, really. We are truly among the happiest people in the world. Praise God for that!

And I take my cue from the flood survivors. To be grateful and count our blessings because whether the world has turned upside down around us, there is so much more to be thankful for.

Gifts under our tree this year.

I am grateful for the tremendous love in my life. Everyday, I am reminded how blessed I am to have so many people who love me- my husband, my boys, my parents, sisters, in-laws, relatives and friends. Yes, friends who are very dear, they are like family.  As cliche as it may be, at the end of day, only LOVE matters really. The rest are just a bonus. 

So I praise my God for this big, powerful gift of love. If there's one special wish I can give out to you all, it will be that all of you may have so much love in your life. Let's all spread the love. Only that makes a real difference.