Thanksgiving

This Christmas is indeed very different from the past two Christmases that I had since I graduated from college. Indeed, this is the “thinnest” in terms of finances, since I work as a part time faculty, and I didn’t have the usual Christmas bonuses and gifts that I had two Christmases ago. More unfortunate is the fact that I wasn’t able to get my December salary from PNU. What a pity. O well, if it means “serving the Filipino people” then I’d be glad—but let’s face it, it’s just the pathetic system.

So much for the bitterness. As I have mentioned, this Christmas is indeed very much different from the last two…It’s happier and more bountiful—in terms of blessings. It’ll take me a lot of time to list them down one by one, but allow me to enumerate some of them (skip boring parts, if you wish to)

1. This year was a phenomenal year for me. “Phenomenal” because once again, I was able to prove to the world and to myself that I can break barriers; that I can free myself from the prison walls. Indeed, I was able to unravel the bigger (and real) world of an educator, in a real school, in a real university
2. Despite living alone, God has been a provider and protector. Through out my stay in my “flat” (I prefer calling it cave) God never left me and I was able to survive. There would be days that I would be financially down (particularly because the salary in PNU is 10 days delayed on the average) but in the brink of hunger, God would always be there to send what I need. I look forward to another year—though I really pray that I can move to a better place, one with my own CR. Hehe
3. I was able to adapt to my new environments. Well, even if I’m a PNU alumnus, I still had a lot of adjustments—from student to faculty. In the case of La Salle, I didn’t have that much of a problem. The people are friendly, although of course there are some who are not so warm. But as Kay would always tell me, “keri lang”.
4. The SK praise and worship team’s fund raising concert was a blast! It’s not something new. We prepare concerts almost every year, but this year’s concert was a blast because we were the ones responsible from planning to arranging to marketing. I also felt that we have somehow elevated our skills in playing the instruments, singing new songs, and using these God-given talents to praise Jesus.
5. Healthy family. Another year has passed, and God has been very kind to our family. Nobody got seriously sick (although old age begins to manifest to my parents) Kay would observe that our lifestyle has evolved. Yeah, even if we weren’t richer than before, I think we weren’t as hungry as before as well. Nevertheless, a healthy body is more than enough to be thankful about.

Whether we feel blessed or depressed, this season is something to be thankful about, since it reminds us of one great love that God has offered to us. I am not perfect, nor am I holy, but I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. God Bless us all. =)