Christmas Moving Forward

The year is about to go. Soon the trees that we have put up and the lights we’ve adorned our houses with will have to be taken down. The mistletoes, the wreaths, and lanterns will all have to go to their hiding places once again. It will not be until another year for them to be restored.

The jovial feeling of the season will take a step back and life goes back to its conventional mode. It’s somewhat forlorn that once in a year this poem comes along:

It's Christmas Time Again
(by Bob Lazzar-Atwood)

Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

Call a truce with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Give your differences a breather
And declare a time of peace,
Don't let angry feelings taint
The precious time you have to spend,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It's a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
So allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

The Christmas season seemed to have become an excuse for not being deleterious. It has become a habit to think that once a year we become extra kind, helpful, & generous, and that we can only “allow” ourselves “some happiness” during Christmas time. What makes Christmas a time to place our misbehaviors on hold? What sets it apart from any other occasion throughout the year? What’s Christmas all about?

Over 2000 years ago, a child was born of Mary and Joseph. This child and event was seen & prophesied by a prophet named Isaiah long before it happened. It was declared by an angel (Gabriel) that this child will be called Jesus, and that he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. His birth was a manifestation of God’s love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Isaiah declared: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: …
“… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4–5).

This is the lifeblood of Christmas. We all know the story, but sometimes the purpose of which becomes trifling.

The “reason for the season”, as the saying goes, is Christ. It is the time of year when Christians celebrate his birth. He is the personification of all uprightness & the source of goodness & love in the world. He has taught: “Love one another, as I have loved you…” (John 13: 34-35). “Whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him, as well.” When the woman taken in adultery was set before Jesus and the Pharisees ought to have her stoned, he reminded: “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). It was He who also taught in parables.

Who has not become acquainted with Parables such as the “Good Samaritan”& the “Prodigal Son”? When it was time for him to be taken in by Roman soldiers, preparatory to his crucifixion, he restored a soldier’s ear which was severed by one of his followers, in his defense. Such act of mercy was culminated on the cross when he said: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). His ministry and life were replete with acts of kindness & forgiveness: “If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him”.

In the great Plan of Happiness, we must be saved from our sins. The perfect and sinless offering for sin was none other than Christ. He is the Son of God and the only Begotten of the Father, in the flesh. There was none other who could have possibly taken our sins upon him and suffered the way Jesus did. There had to be an atonement made.

Amulek, a prophet of the new world has spoken about this: “And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

“For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made” (Book of Mormon, Alma 34: 8-9).

Christmas should remind us of the mission and role of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is set apart from all other events & celebrations because it is by him and through him that we are saved and can receive eternal life.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Christ has underscored the significance of his role when he said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

For us who believe and follow Christ, Christmas should just be another ordinary day in being the kind of people we ought to be. When he visited the Americas, Christ taught that we ought to be like him: “Therefore, what manner of men [& women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 27:27).

What then is the substance of being nice, forgiving, more loving, more kind, & more generous during Christmas season when these attributes should become natural to us and should be demonstrated at all times, in whatever season of the year. The adorning of the Christmas tree, and the setting up of lights and other Christmas decors had become symbolic of our behaviors in life, in that we always have to take them down after the holiday. We tend to go back being unforgiving, unkind, impatient, irritable, selfish, hateful, & miserable. The good things which adorned us throughout the Christmas season were taken down together with the material ornamentations we’ve set up for the celebration.

Howard Hunter once said: “When we take Christ into our lives as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force, the real Christmas comes”. When we accept Christ and His teachings, and when we repent of our sins, we are baptized into His fold. That is the time when we start adorning ourselves with His (Christlike) attributes. We become living trees with ornaments such as humility, charity & love, obedience & diligence, faith and hope. These become a part of us and do not need to be taken down or suspended for another year. We grow into living examples of the Savior.

As we welcome the New Year, and as we take down those material and physical ornaments along the way, may we be reminded to keep the lessons of Christmas & retain the real Christmas within our souls.

I have thought about changing some phrases in the poem to make it sound more lasting.

It’s Christmas

Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself the same happiness
Which Christmas always brings.

Work to reunite with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Understand all of your differences
And declare a time of peace,
Don't ever let angry feelings taint
The precious time you spend,
And allow yourself the same happiness
Which Christmas always brings.

Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It's a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
And allow yourself the same happiness
Which Christmas always brings.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Image taken from Reflections of Christ by Mark Mabry. Visit the site www.reflectionsofchrist.org

Remembering Father

I was reading the paper yesterday and I came across a news article about the USS Mercy’s program with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help eliminate rabies in the country. That’s all about it.

I’m not writing about that program, but about my dad. As father’s day approaches it was timely that I read that article. My father served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Mercy in most of his 20 years of service, as a dentist.

My father was already retired from the Navy when I came in to the family. I was born in 1974. He retired in 1969. I am grateful that throughout my growing up years, he was there to look over and guide me.

I remember when I was little, he used to take me every where he went, especially in his out of town visits. I remember him most, however, in his duties as a church leader. He was the president of our church branch in the town, and eventually became part of the district leadership. The first meetinghouse (chapel) in Zambales, in San Antonio, was of particular interest to him as he donated labor in its construction. When it was time that a meetinghouse needed to be erected in our own town, he was instrumental in exploring and helping acquire the piece of land where it would be constructed.

Ahh, my dad! Church members loved him. He was a very active home teacher and a loving father to all. Who can forget the Monday Family Home Evenings with the entire branch at our home? That was fun. Missionaries would cover the games and neighbors would have a glimpse of what Latter-day Saints are. Member US servicemen & their families from the US Naval Facilities in Subic and San Miguel (San Antonio) would also visit & spend some family nights with us.

My father was hard working and very resourceful. He is the epitome of the church’s program on self reliance. I remember we didn’t have a lot of new appliance in our home. I grew up just using the same electric fans. We only bought a component and a TV once, in replacement of the old ones. From then on, he would have them repaired or he would do it himself. It’s a shame that I didn’t take on my father’s hard working attitude and resourcefulness, although I learned the former later on in my life, and the hard way.

It was him who taught me the principle of the Word of Wisdom—abstinence from coffee, tea, tobacco, liquor, harmful drugs. In connection to this, he also forbade me from drinking Cola drinks. To this I remained true up to the present day.

My mother died early. I was 11. My older sister married when I was 14. My father then became a single parent to me, until he died in 2001.

I went to serve a mission leaving my dad behind for 2 years. I didn’t want to go because I thought he would need me more. Then, I remembered what he wanted me to do. He used to brag about me going on a mission. When it was time to go, he had no second thoughts. He was old and I thought any time in my mission he might pass on, just like what happened to my mother when my sister was on her mission. I was in college then, in Manila. On weekends I go home to my dad in the province. Here is a father who skips dinner just so he can eat together with his son upon arrival. Later he admitted that he had a hard time eating without me. My heart ached even more. I thought how my father could survive without seeing me, or being with me for 2 years. He only had this to say: “This is what the Lord wants you to do, and I want you to go”.

I missed him so much in my first area in the mission field that I became so homesick that I wanted to go home. I wrote to him about my intentions. He wrote back: “You’re already in the Lord’s errand and in His hands. What more do you ask for”? His response was more like Gordon Hinckley’s father’s reply which was “forget yourself and go to work”.

How true it is that if we’re in the Lord’s errand, our families will be kept safe and blessed. I was worrying that I wouldn’t see my father again, but it was him who told me not to worry as I’m in the Lord’s errand and everything would be just fine. I am reminded of the Lord’s promise to Thomas B. Marsh right after he was ordained an Elder in the church, in Doctrine & Covenants 31:5. He was also worried about his family as he was about to leave them for his mission. This is what the Lord said: “Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live”.

I am still amazed at how the Lord took care of my father while I was gone. I found my father ailing when I returned from my mission, but the Lord provided enough time (2yrs) for him to be with me before he would call him home.

My father was my example of faith and hope. I always saw him pray, even unto death. He taught me about prayer by his example. From our family prayers when I was little, to his personal prayers when he was old, he taught me about trusting the Lord. It must have been hard for him during my absence in those 2 years of my mission, but I knew he was prayerful and had an abundant trust in the Lord. The Lord let him live, as promised. That was one of my motivation in the mission—“to thrust in [my] sickle with all [my] soul”, so that my father would live.

He’s been gone for 7 years now, but the legacy of his example lives on in me. Not only does my testimony keep me riveted in the church, but also my father’s example. I am reminded of his life and his love for me in this very season of fathers.

I love you Tatang! (I’ve always called him this way)

Mother, I love you.

My mom is a never-ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. – Graycie Harmon

Not too long ago, there was this church filmstrip called “I’ll Build You a Rainbow”. I used to have the story memorized. It was about a little boy named Jamey and his mother. I came to love this story as I likened the little boy to myself. Both our mothers died when we were 11 yrs old.

(Read story at http://anchoredbygrace.com/heartstrings/families.htm)

The story talked about Jamey’s mom having all the time in the world for him as compared to other moms who were busy with their “fashion shows & bridge parties”. She was home with him. I remember when I was growing up, my mother stayed home with me. She was a homemaker. My dad was already retired from the Navy when I was born. I never had to miss my parents’ company while growing up.

My 11th year in life was notable as this was the time my mother got sick and died. The same happened to Jamey’s mom. He was called home from school one day and he was surprised to see an ambulance parked in the driveway. When he went in the house, he saw his mom lying on the bed. He had a moment with her. Jamey did not understand as to why it had to happen. He said, “mom you can’t die”. His mom replied, “It’s ok Jamey. I have been with you more in 11 years that most moms been with their boys in their whole lifetime”. He said, “I know mom. I know, but you just can’t die”. The mother reassuringly responded, “Jamey I want you to know a secret—it’s a special secret, and I want you to always remember it: ‘Families are forever’”!

I wish I also had a moment with my mom before she closed her eyes and eventually passed on. I was playing the piano at home one morning. She walked towards me and sat down on the rocking chair by the piano. I thought she fell asleep while listening to my music. I couldn’t wake her up. When the doctors came, they said she must be taken to the hospital. The next time I saw my mother, she was in a casket.

I remember it was my mother who sent me to piano school. She aspired that someday I can play the hymns at church. The church building in our hometown was still under construction when she died. It was a noble intention and for that, I am grateful that since then, I’ve been playing the piano at church. It has become a talent I humbly share. It also came handy when I was a missionary. There were some areas where wards or branches didn’t have pianists so I got to play during sacrament meetings.

Going back, the day my mother arrived in a casket, I went to our backyard. I looked up in the sky and I didn’t know what to think or feel. I didn’t understand. I went in the house by the kitchen door and my father was right there. He embraced me and cried, “your mother is gone”. I cried, too. Just like Jamey, I could feel my dad’s teardrops on my own cheeks. Then I remembered the secret. I looked up to him and said, “dad it’s alright, families are forever!”

My mother was out of my life’s scene early. It’s been 23 years since, but I still remember her as a kind and caring mother. I remember her kisses when I was hurt. She was always there to give me a hug every time I was in trouble. Of all the things she did, I will always be thankful for the things she taught me. She was my primary teacher at church. I learned about the Savior and my Heavenly Father’s love at her knees. My mother instilled my testimony of living prophets to me. I remember her testimony of President Kimball. She loved that prophet and she testified that when communicating with God, President Kimball could almost touch the Savior. From that testimony, I know now as I learned before that our living prophets and apostles are literally special witnesses, even eyewitnesses of the Savior.

My mother. I love her. I thank the Lord for giving her to me and letting her stay with me for those 11 years. I thank her for the love, the comfort, and the happiness, which became music to me, still playing in my heart. It’s been a long time. I can only remember a few things about her, but the tune unto which she sang her lullabies will always be a part of me. Ultimately, I’m grateful for the knowledge & assurance that I can be together with her again, forever.

“I'll build you a rainbow, way up high above. Send down a sunbeam, plumb full of love. Sprinkle down raindrops, teardrops of joy. I'll be happy as spring-time, watchin' over my boy”