Gifts and Grace, A Warm Embrace

   

The start of our Christmas break approached with an unending thought of that momentarily lull of no school-works, and of all the sleep I'd get. The air was comfortingly cold and breezy, with a familiar scent of anticipation, as if the world itself had paused to exhale. It was two days before our break began when I found myself drawn into the school's student council's heartwarming tradition: the Bigay Puso 2024. As a member of the executive board as the school's protocol officer, I had privilege of helping bring joy to the children of Lingsat Elementary School at Lingsat, Bantay. Toys and food were given with love to the children as their laughter somehow became the kind of music that lingered into the soul after it entered our ears. 

   The next day brought a bittersweet celebration: our class Christmas party. We played games, I won a few and exchanged simple tokens of appreciation. Yet, underneath the joy was the quiet realization that I wouldn’t see these familiar faces for weeks. It was a goodbye, but also a promise of rest.

    The break began as I helped my mom transform our home into a place of tidiness and warmth. My hands found comfort in cleaning, organizing, and rediscovering hobbies that had been thrown under during the chaos of school. The piano keys became my diary, each note a line of untold stories. Books whispered new worlds into my ears, and movies painted dreams on the canvas of my mind.

    Few blinks, Christmas Eve crept in softly, like a quiet blessing. On December 23rd, my mother and I paved our way to the market to gather ingredients for our Noche Buena, the centerpiece being macaroni, a dish as traditional as the carols that filled the air. Before the celebration, we attended Simbang Gabi, a tradition that never fails to bring me closer to God. 

        The following night, as the clock inched closer to midnight, we celebrated the birth of Christ in our own humble way. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was enough to fill our hearts with gratitude and our souls with peace. As Christmas morning dawned, I realized this was what joy felt like! Not in grand gestures, but in simple, meaningful moments.

Province of Ilocos Sur | One People, One Province, One Ilocos sur. (2024, December 2). https://mis.ilocossur.gov.ph/