Regarding the title of this post: when it’s Christmas; that’s a hard lesson to teach our kids.  This is the first time in many Christmases that there were hardly any gifts under our tree.  I even had a nightmare about it.  I think I just destroyed a part of my daughter’s childhood even though she is not a child anymore.  But though she’s been a teenager for two years, she’s always retained that Spirit of Christmas since she was a child.

Unfortunately, this year was different.  I worked until this last Friday, I could hardly make Christmas shopping secretly like previous years hence being not many surprises under the tree.  Money was tight this last week and I was paid pretty late.  It’s hard to keep the Christmas Spirit when there are so many obstacles.  So I tried to teach my daughter that giving is better than receiving.

Today, we will eat our Christmas lunch-dinner with somebody who was going to spend it alone. We invited our neighbor so that she can at least feel that there’s somebody near.  We bought Christmas gifts to another friend’s kids because they were not sure if they were going to have any gifts.  Even if my money is tight; there are other people who are doing much worse than I am.  We have to be grateful for what little we have because there are people that are doing much worse.

Right now, there are people in Puerto Rico who haven’t had electricity since Hurricane Irma back in September.  Their Christmas has been very sad but they are making the most of it.  I don’t even dare to show Christmas photos because I would feel that I’m gloating while they are going through hard times.  I’ve help financially the most I can; but I wish I could do more.

It’s good to pray for the people; but helping them in any way we can is like becoming God’s hand for those in need.  We are in this world to be the representation of God’s church and help each other.  We can have many resolutions for this new year but let’s make helping each other more an extra one; and the most important one.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!