The year 2017 has gone by really fast. Christmas is just a few days away and it is indeed a very exciting time of the year. Maraming mga celebrations, family get-togethers, at iba pang mga bagay na nagpapaalala sa atin na pasko na nga. Sa ibang bansa, snow ang palatandaan nila. At dahil may snow, malamig ang pasko. Sa Pilipinas, kahit walang snow eh para sa iba, malamig pa rin ang pasko. Bakit nga ba?

“Malamig ang pasko ko,” is what we hear from people who are single this Christmas. We cannot deny that spending Christmas with a special someone is something that most people look forward to. Pero sa iba, dahil walang special someone, they sulk away and do not gleefully celebrate the season. Pero kailangan ba talagang maging malamig ang pasko? Ang nobyo o nobya ba ang dahilan ng pagdiriwang natin ng nakapaespesyal  na araw na ito?

We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth and life of Jesus Christ. During this season, we are reminded that He walked this Earth to show us the perfect example to follow.  We remember that because He came, all men will rise from the dead, can be forgiven of their sins, and have the opportunity to return to Heavenly Father. When we embrace that He is the reason for the season, we will be reminded that His birth and life are enough reasons for us to be joyful, grateful and feel loved. His love alone is enough para mapawi ang kalamigan ng mga puso ng mga taong malalamig ang pasko. At ang pagmamahal na ito ay ipinaparamdam niya sa pamamagitan ng ating pamilya at mga kailbigan. His love is always available to us not just during the season but in every season of our lives.

Some may say na hindi ganoon kadali maging masaya ngayong pasko kung sobrang nasasaktan ka. That’s true. Hindi nga talaga madaling maging masaya but the Lord counseled us through Gordon B. Hinckley, “The best medicine for despair is service.” There are many ways that we can serve this Christmas and every service that we do is valuable to Him. Giving service will increase our love towards Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and as we are filled with their love, our capacity to love others will grow.

May the perfect love of the Savior fill and warm the hearts of those who are in despair. At sana mapawi ng pagmamahal na iyon ang lahat ng kalamigan ng pasko sa bawat puso ng mga tao sa mundo.