a blog made last christmas..just want to share it with everyone

[rachel ann]

Christmas is coming..the cold breeze has started invading every busy streets of the christian community…people are busy thinking of xmas party, busy listing down the shopping list and busy shopping even during rush hours….

Are you one of them???

While doing this stuff, have you ever tried to reflect about other people, about children; abandoned, orphaned and neglected?

i admit, i will be one of the busy shoppers once the xmas vacation starts but i just felt like not doing the same routine i have. Just this morning, while i was on my way home, i am thinking of the children that i am serving…

I was trying to put myself in their situation.they long for their families especially in this special occassion, i can feel their longiness for a happy and complete family..despite the gifts that for sure they will receive from different people, they still wish to be with their family…they still hope that one day they will be able to celebrate this special occassion with them…

the words that one of the children have expounded to me that really touches my heart and still playing in my mind was ” Hindi ako kumpleto, wala ang nanay ko”("I am not complete,my mom is nowhere to be found")?
i really wanted to cry but i have to show him that i am strong so that he can get enough strength from me and also i can give him positive hope for the future…he was only 7, no one knows his exact birthdate..no one knows where he came from, no one knows how he got separated from his family…but whatever explanation might be given, he don’t care..all he knows was he wanted to be with his family especially with his mother…

It’s really painful to think that during this holiday season, season for family, there are people suffering because of this season as well….

While i was internalizing the children’s situation, the memories of my dad butted in….then at that point, i was not able to stop the tears from rolling down into my cheeks…i can still remember last xmas, the only wish i wished for was to see my dad and be with my dad, i even imagined him celebrating the xmas eve with us..yes indeed it came into reality but he’s not breathing anymore..i thank God because even for the last time he had given us the chance to see him..to serve him even if he was unable to feel it..to make him feel that he’s our dad..but now, i’m starting to feel the longingness again, starting to feel guilt within me.

how was he during the previous xmas?how did he celebrated it every year?was he happy?does he had the same mindset the children had? did he wished for a complete family for xmas?

For some, it may sound so simple but for them its their life…for me, its my everything…

This coming holiday,i might do the same routine inside our home but ill spend that special day with my dad on the place where he was laid.

Lets be reminded how lucky we are to have our loved ones with us...

[Andrew Quinley]

Wow, you broke my heart with this one Rachel. Great insight. Thanks for sharing this part of your heart with us.