'Tis the Season

By Happy del Rosario

December 1, 2016

Yes, it's here again. Year after year after year, Christmas time brings with it opportunities for deep thought for those who ask:  What does Christmas mean to me?

For anyone who grew up going to church--attending Sunday school; going to summer youth camps; or  joining different small-group meetings, it's almost impossible to miss the all-time favorite verse, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  Other translations read: "For God loved the world in this way: so much that he would give up his Son, The Only One, so that everyone who trusts in him shall not be lost, but he shall have eternal life."

A few weeks ago, while in church, I heard this verse again, BUT in a whole new way (I love it when that happens!).  I know all of us can relate to the one being loved that, for some people, we even put our names on that verse to read, "For God so loved HAPPY, that He gave His only begotten Son, that when HAPPY believes in Him, she should not perish, but have everlasting life."

So, all my life, every time John 3:16 is read, I relate to the one receiving or getting the love which is truly wonderful, right?  After all, who doesn't need saving, loving, rescuing, and just being given another chance to live life well?

However, reading that verse again a few weeks ago, I realized that I could also relate to the One giving the love...that I could give as much as I get:

"HAPPY loved...so she gave..."

"(your name) loved...so (your name) gave..."

We are so used to being the receiver--the recipient. Especially being filipino...No, especially being alive in this day and age...Especially during this season (yeah, even if it's a time to "give"), we are still so used to being the receiver; we're wired that way--What's in it for me?--UNTIL we choose to go against that grain.

This season, why don't we choose to relate to the Giver. Let's choose to be the one giving, not just getting. Let's reciprocate "all the love" (all the blessings) we've received by being givers to each other.   And when I say give, it goes way beyond charity work, donations, gift giving, etc...it's the kind of giving that not only changes us from within,  but changes even the elements around us.

Because we love, we give.  Give up the need to be right. :) This will end a lot of conflicts. The world around us needs help--it needs our love, not our judgment. In the end, no one will ask if we were always right because it won't matter.  What matters is what we do with what we have been given.  We have been given love.  Did we give love? We have been given hope.  Did we give hope to others? We have been given a clean slate.  Did we give others a chance?

This Christmas, let's all be givers of love, hope, and a clean slate one to another.