CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION EVERYDAY!

   December is the most luxurious months for Filipinos. I can describe this month as a month of generosity. We love to receive gifts during this month from someone. Gift could either be expensive or cheap. For me, the value is not important. When we receive gifts, we can ponder that the person who gives you the same cares, loves and values your existence. Whatever is the reason, we should be thankful. Be happy; do not be dismayed if we receive any kind of gift. Now, if we receive expensive gifts, is it real happiness?

This chapter will guide you to experience real happiness. This will not only require you to read alone for a real happiness, but also this chapter needs your active participation as a recipe for a long lasting contentment. I could say that can you experience a Christmas celebration every single day. Are you ready? Continue reading:

I have a friend named Choie. He has been working as an associate in one of the well-known companies in the Philippines. He worked for three (3) years and he saves money in the bank. He wants to use his savings to buy a motorcycle. However for three (3) years of working, he tells me that he only saves thirty-five thousand pesos (Php. 35,000.00) in the bank.

Another friend of mine, JM, is also saving money for taking bar examination. Taking bar examination is expensive because the examination will be held in Manila. Many expenses will have to be considered, like fare to Manila and going back to Cebu, expenses for food, for review, for review materials such as books, for board and lodging and others for at least one month or more. He works in a law firm as a paralegal for only one (1) year. He saves money in the amount of One Hundred Thirty Thousand Pesos (Php. 130,000.00) in his bank. It is enough for his sustenance in Bar Examination.

I keep on wondering why JM saves more than that of Choie. In one occasion, Choie, JM and I met. So, I ask JM his secrets because for one (1) year, he saves enough for his purpose. JM told me an easy recipe. He said, “Be generous and be mindful!”

Brothers and sisters, I found the answer of JM to be very intelligent. When you give, you can receive more. It becomes easy for you to save then. Even how big or how small you earned; you can give or share it to others. God said if much will be given to you, then much will be required of you.     

Sometimes we thought that we can buy what we want. But inadvertently, a need exists like a magic. So, we have to prioritize our needs thereby making the wants to oblivion. Needs are more important than wants. Take this as an example, expensive cellphones are wants. If we need a phone for constant communication with our love ones or business partners, we can buy quality cellphones that are very affordable. There is no hustle because thieves or robbers do not have the interest to take those cheaper phones with force.

Health is more important than those material possessions. When sickness occurs all our savings will be consumed like bubbles that explode in a second. We have to prioritize our health than wants. How can we earn if we are sick?   We can exercise, we can sleep early or we can eat healthy food to take care of our body. I remember a situation when I was reviewing for the first time in the preparation for Bar examination. Because of stress, I was confined in the hospital for two (2) days. It started as LBM, then I got fever and at the same time I always vomit. Because of lack of budget, I did not consider going to a doctor for prescription. I was able to handle LBM for five (5) days. On the sixth day, I got fever. However on the seventh day, I vomit while fever and LBM. My mother decided to rush me in the hospital. Do you know what the finding of the doctor was? Nothing!  The doctor asked me, what did I undergone the past week? I answered that I just preparing for a bar examination. Then he concluded that the cause of my illness was only because of stress. You know what? I spent thirteen thousand pesos (Php. 13,000.00) and more for medicines for only two days. My savings had been deduced because I have to regain a healthy body. I have to spent such money in order to prepare for the bar examination.

I also have a friend named Alex who spent money in order to consult his ailing teeth by a dentist. He cannot read well his book for the bar examination. He cannot focus. In preparing for the bar examination, time is of the essence. When he reached at the dental clinic, the dentist told him that nothing wrong with his teeth. He was advised to undergo an X-ray in order to find out if there was a problem beneath his teeth. To his dismay, nothing’s wrong. It was only caused by stress. But, he spent one thousand pesos (Php. 1000.00) for the X-ray and three hundred pesos (Php. 300.00) for consultation fee. He has no choice but to spend it.

How to avoid these unnecessary expenses? Be mindful! Have a balance lifestyle. Work at the right time and rest at the proper time. However, you cannot do it without guidance from above. Much prayer has to be done in order to keep everything in balance. With this, you can save.

In life, it is inadvertent that people will come to you and ask something from you. It is normal. You have your parent who might ask for something to spend for the family. You have brothers or sisters who also need money for studies or for help if they are out of budget. You have neighbors who will also ask for assistance. The church also needs your support for works of mercy. Are we going to decline from all these needs?

Remember JM? He said, “Be generous.” He learned it from the bible. That is right! God tells us always to be generous. Even if you have a little, share it with others. That little gift enlightens the receiver. The joy in the face of the person who receives the small gift fulfills the heart of the giver. If you give, God will entrust His treasures to you. He will give you much.

Take this real illustration to elaborate. A friend and board mate of mine complains with what he has. He said to me that he only earns a little and saves less in the bank.   However, when I observe him, he has five (5) branded foot wears including basketball shoes, formal shoes, and casual shoes, he has many branded T-shirts and pants, he eats with delicious food, he is healthy, he has an intelligent, active and beautiful daughter, he has a very nice mother and others. He said to me that he cannot give but I beg to disagree because he gives jokes and makes others laugh, he gives time to his daughter, and he helps his mother in some expenses of the house. What is lacking? I said to him, “You lack time with Jesus.” In order to save, please give whatever you have. If you give much, you will receive much. Give with all your heart and overflowing blessing follows. Remember this friend, “A painful generosity results a painful generosity.”

Building relationship with God leads you to a very wonderful life. God will teach you to be generous thereby leading you to work for mercy. When you are ready to give to others, God will give you much. But with the gifts given to you by God, He requires you to serve others. He requires you to be generous. 

When Choie heard this, he started to give. One day during the Christmas Party of the company where he works, his name was drawn during the raffle draw. He received an electric fan. It was a great timing because he plans to buy an electric fan seven months before. He always out of budget because there are other priorities. Electric fan is always his last priority. He was amazed by this fact because for three years working in the company, this is the only time that he receives gift through a raffle draw. Gift of God really comes in a mysterious way. God gives at the right time.

Do you still remember the song “Give love on Christmas Day”? I love the part of the lyrics which says, “Oh, even the man who has everything would be so happy if you would give”. Nobody will be sad if you will give. So, brothers and sisters let us be selfless in giving whatever we have. Blessings from God will really come in unexpected way but at the proper time.

Giving as I said gives us joy. Let’s make every day, a day of generosity. Giving cannot be done only in the month of December because of the many benefits we receive. We can do it everyday. An act of simple generosity a day is an act of mercy. Real happiness will be experienced. You will be satisfied and that is guaranteed. Real satisfaction does not mean by receiving only expensive gifts. If you have nothing, prayer is one of the best gifts that you can give to others.

At the start of this article, I urge you to participate in order to experience real happiness. Receiving something may satisfy our worldly needs but giving satisfies heavenly duties. The effect of giving is receiving overflowing blessings. What else can you ask for?  Starting from now, you have to be generous. God is selfless of being generous. He gave us His only begotten son, Jesus to save us from our sins. By raising the cross where He is crucified, God’s gratefulness wins over evil.  Let’s make this into existence every day by participating of becoming generous. We can live in a luxurious life with Christ by being generous.