Christmas lanterns(Christmas in the Philippines)
photo source
...learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
- Matthew 11:29-30
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
- Micah 6:8
Pride is concerned with who is right.
Humility is concerned with what is right.
A few days before Christmas, Madorra, Chosen One's mom, and my daughter Obedient One arrived from Manila to spend Christmas and New Year with us.
Christmas is that time of the year when family members get together to celebrate this very special season.
This is a season of celebration, and tradition plays a very important role because it helps us remember past Christmases when we were little children and the spirit of Christmas captivated our hearts, filling it with wonder and delight.
For me, this is what I am looking for in Christmas - that sense of wonder and delight that filled my heart as a child...
I recall my mom and dad coming home with a real pine tree, and we would decorate it with the ornaments that have been carefully stored in boxes, the same tinsel and colored balls and lights, the special toys that would be placed under the tree...
then there would be all the food being prepared,
and the gifts being wrapped and then, given away.
A memorable part of all this celebration would always be the special dresses that Papa and Mama would buy for my sister and me, to be worn the first time on Christmas Eve when we went to church for the Christmas Eve mass.
Everything was so solemn, yet there was so much joy and gladness in the air...my young heart could hardly contain the sense of excitement.
After that we would come home to eat what we called the Noche Buena, the Christmas Eve meal. The table would be laden with good food to eat, and it was almost always a family reunion of sorts - with aunts, and uncles, cousins, grandmother and grandfather.
Christmas was always a season to look forward to. The traditions we observed gave me a sense of security and comfort. Because of Christmas, I knew that somehow, no matter what, life was going to turn out fine.
From this little child's point of view, Christmas had a magical quality to it.
But things change over time.
For one thing, I eventually grew up... and childhood became a thing of the past.
I began looking at Christmas from a different perspective...no longer from the lens of a child's eyes, but from my experiences as an adult.
In 1978 I got married and the following year I moved with my new husband to his hometown, Bacolod City. We began celebrating Christmas Eve with his family.
I tried to hold on to what I could of my past Christmases, and incorporated them to the way Ernie and I celebrated this special event.
My Christmases acquired a different meaning because I realized that by combining a bit of the old and the new, Ernie and I were creating new memories, both for ourselves, and for our children.
But seasons come, and seasons go.
We all long for hope, wonder, and delight... but the spirit of true Christmas can only be experienced in the heart; our external circumstances, our beautiful memories, or the sacred traditions that we hold dear...these could never be the source of Christmas joy and cheer.
In the last 32 years of my life I have been through different kinds of Christmas seasons....
in 1982 my mother suffered a stroke, and despite the joy I felt at the birth of my second son, Christmas that year filled my heart with pain.....
in the early 1990s Ernie and I were facing a financial crisis, and Christmas didn't bring me any hope or joy... only a sense of dread and darkness...
in 1994 we were enduring a relational crisis, estranged from our own church family because of false accusations, and deprived of a sense of belonging...Christmas felt bitter and meaningless...
in the early 2000s, I knew God was calling me out of my comfort zone, and as 2003 was ending, I was aware of a major sifting and shifting coming into my life... it seemed like the rug was being pulled under my feet... I had many questions, but no specific answers... and during that particular Christmas season, I felt betrayed and unappreciated...
then in 2008, only two years ago, my husband passed away... I only went through the motions of celebrating Christmas, because deep inside was a deep sense of loss, and my heart felt no emotion, everything seemed like a cold and barren wasteland...
And now comes, Christmas 2010... my 57th Christmas...
This one is so different, compared to all the other Christmases I've known.
It is the first Christmas that I have a second daughter in law, and a second grandson, in my life.
This has brought many changes into my life... and these are days when I am very much involved in domestic chores again. Because Worshiper and Chosen One live with me, I understand that any help I can extend to them is well appreciated as they adjust to life with a new baby.
And before I knew it, the week of Christmas was upon us. The tree had not yet been put up, my gifts were still waiting to be wrapped, and my Christmas menu had not yet been planned.
We did manage to put up the tree, just a few days before Christmas, and as usual, it turned out to be beautiful.
Obedient One and I hurriedly wrapped gifts on December 24, just one day before Christmas.
We all tried our best to have a meaningful Christmas celebration this year, and thanks to Madorra's culinary skills, we had good and nutritious food on our table for every meal. It also gave me so much joy to have Obedient One around; her being here completes our nuclear family.
During this Christmas week, our whole family tried to have lunch together everyday - me, my two sons First Born and Worshiper and their wives, God-given and Chosen One, my daughter Obedient One, my grandsons, and Madorra, Chosen One's mom.
It was easy to come together for meals because First Born and his family live right next door to us.
Worshiper and I did the marketing, while Madorra and God-given did the cooking. Chosen One baked lots of cookies when she was not breastfeeding her baby and we all did our part in cleaning up afterward.
We ate our traditional Christmas Eve supper with Ernie's sisters Suzette and Leila and their families. It was such a quiet evening with no other agenda than family togetherness - the children played games, we adults sat around the table and shared our thoughts and our memories. The meal as always was delicious and seasoned with so much love.
There was the giving out of gifts, and of course, lots of picture taking.
Before the evening was over, we listened to Pastor Bong read the Christmas story from Luke's gospel, then we sang a Christmas hymn, Silent Night, after which we all hugged and kissed one another before it was time to leave.
First Born and his family went to the home of God-given's parents to spend the rest of the evening with them.
Worshiper, Chosen One, their baby, Madorra, Obedient One and I went back home, and waited for the stroke of midnight while sipping hot cocoa, and munching the Christmas cookies that Chosen One had baked the night before.
On Christmas day, we all had a late lunch, then gathered together in the living room to open our gifts.
Christmas this year was so simple for our family - not too many trimmings, or excesses... but it was full of love, warmth, kindness, understanding for one another.
I am gaining many new insights about friendship as well.
This year I have realized that I could look at one failed friendship and be weighed down by it...
...wallow in self-pity because of the unfair false accusations that are being believed about me,
...take an overly aggressive self-protective stance trying to untie the knots of loose talk going around,
...jump to wrong conclusions without checking the facts,
...respond in irritation and offense at a friend who opts to dump her feelings on me and send lengthy text messages to my phone at a time when I just wanted to enjoy the occasion meaningfully with my family...
OR
I could walk the unbeaten path by deciding to turn my back on all this once and for all,
... embrace kindness,
... be understanding and compassionate,
... leave my case in the hands of the Ultimate Judge,
... and choose the way of peace.
After the Christmas Eve service, I approached the friend that had chosen not to be on speaking terms with me. I touched her arm, smiled at her, and gave her my gift and Christmas card. My heart is still wounded from all the lies she continues to believe about me, but I did not want to walk in disobedience knowing that God clearly commands me to forgive a brother who has wronged me.
It was done as an act of obedience because I wanted to honor God... and to walk the way of peace.
I do not need to defend myself, or set the false records straight. I can walk in peace without doing that. This is not to say that I am perfect, or completely innocent of any wrongdoing in what happened.
Somewhere along the way of the friendship, I must have taken a wrong turn, without intending to. That is why I took the first step and gave my gift, an offering of peace.
Now, I am free to offer my gift for God at the altar, and this I believe is the best way to end this year.
In the year that is to come, God is speaking to me about right alignments. He has clearly said that 2011 is a Year of Promotion.
Therefore, my heart has to be free of false attachments.
False attachments is an unhealthy pre-occupation with self... self-focus, the sin of pride which I believe is the sin that easily entangles.
This Christmas God quietly impressed upon my heart that any desire to keep clearing my name, protecting my reputation, making sure that my image is untarnished, that I am never spoken ill of...vanity, whether in physical looks or in what others think of me... is the sin of pride.
That subtle sin that can keep itself hidden and undetected... the sin that easily entangles.
I came across this amazing, timely comment about pride written by David Rhodes:
As this year ends, I am so thankful that although I have been pretty self-focused the past weeks, nurturing my offended heart, God took time to open my eyes, and to teach me a clear lesson on humility.
Humble is a name my Father gave me at another season of my life...
Humble means to be meek, to be accepting of another person's weaknesses and shortcomings...
It means putting on grace.... to yield... to give way... to let the other person have the right of way... to give him the benefit of the doubt...to put down my self-protective weapons...and to choose the way of peace.
God has comforted me in the midst of the pain I experienced the past months... and this Christmas I am letting go of the pain, and allowing Him to pour the balm of healing on it.
I am enjoying the simple beauty of this season... and above all, the quiet way that He spoke to my heart at the time I needed to hear Him speak to me.
Once again, God stooped down, to rescue me.
You are the love of my life, and the hope that I cling to...
You Are (by Ron Kenoly and Darlene Zschech)
Here are some pictures of our Christmas Eve dinner with Ernie's family:
Chosen One with her mom, Madorra who arrived from Manila to be with her daughter and first grandson for the holidays
My nephew Vince and his wife Rhea
Worshiper and his cousin Jeff
Ernie's sister Leila and her husband Jay
My son First Born, his wife God-given and their son Matthew (Forerunner)
My second son Worshiper, his wife Chosen One and their baby Elijah (Full of Hope)
First Born, Obedient One, me, and Worshiper
Here's my whole family...we're growing!
This is all of us with Ernie's extended family on Christmas Eve. Ernie's only brother Jun and his wife Faith and their children reside in California.
photo source
...learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
- Matthew 11:29-30
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
- Micah 6:8
Pride is concerned with who is right.
Humility is concerned with what is right.
- Ezra Taft Benson
A few days before Christmas, Madorra, Chosen One's mom, and my daughter Obedient One arrived from Manila to spend Christmas and New Year with us.
Christmas is that time of the year when family members get together to celebrate this very special season.
This is a season of celebration, and tradition plays a very important role because it helps us remember past Christmases when we were little children and the spirit of Christmas captivated our hearts, filling it with wonder and delight.
For me, this is what I am looking for in Christmas - that sense of wonder and delight that filled my heart as a child...
I recall my mom and dad coming home with a real pine tree, and we would decorate it with the ornaments that have been carefully stored in boxes, the same tinsel and colored balls and lights, the special toys that would be placed under the tree...
then there would be all the food being prepared,
and the gifts being wrapped and then, given away.
A memorable part of all this celebration would always be the special dresses that Papa and Mama would buy for my sister and me, to be worn the first time on Christmas Eve when we went to church for the Christmas Eve mass.
Everything was so solemn, yet there was so much joy and gladness in the air...my young heart could hardly contain the sense of excitement.
After that we would come home to eat what we called the Noche Buena, the Christmas Eve meal. The table would be laden with good food to eat, and it was almost always a family reunion of sorts - with aunts, and uncles, cousins, grandmother and grandfather.
Christmas was always a season to look forward to. The traditions we observed gave me a sense of security and comfort. Because of Christmas, I knew that somehow, no matter what, life was going to turn out fine.
From this little child's point of view, Christmas had a magical quality to it.
But things change over time.
For one thing, I eventually grew up... and childhood became a thing of the past.
I began looking at Christmas from a different perspective...no longer from the lens of a child's eyes, but from my experiences as an adult.
In 1978 I got married and the following year I moved with my new husband to his hometown, Bacolod City. We began celebrating Christmas Eve with his family.
I tried to hold on to what I could of my past Christmases, and incorporated them to the way Ernie and I celebrated this special event.
My Christmases acquired a different meaning because I realized that by combining a bit of the old and the new, Ernie and I were creating new memories, both for ourselves, and for our children.
But seasons come, and seasons go.
We all long for hope, wonder, and delight... but the spirit of true Christmas can only be experienced in the heart; our external circumstances, our beautiful memories, or the sacred traditions that we hold dear...these could never be the source of Christmas joy and cheer.
In the last 32 years of my life I have been through different kinds of Christmas seasons....
in 1982 my mother suffered a stroke, and despite the joy I felt at the birth of my second son, Christmas that year filled my heart with pain.....
in the early 1990s Ernie and I were facing a financial crisis, and Christmas didn't bring me any hope or joy... only a sense of dread and darkness...
in 1994 we were enduring a relational crisis, estranged from our own church family because of false accusations, and deprived of a sense of belonging...Christmas felt bitter and meaningless...
in the early 2000s, I knew God was calling me out of my comfort zone, and as 2003 was ending, I was aware of a major sifting and shifting coming into my life... it seemed like the rug was being pulled under my feet... I had many questions, but no specific answers... and during that particular Christmas season, I felt betrayed and unappreciated...
then in 2008, only two years ago, my husband passed away... I only went through the motions of celebrating Christmas, because deep inside was a deep sense of loss, and my heart felt no emotion, everything seemed like a cold and barren wasteland...
And now comes, Christmas 2010... my 57th Christmas...
This one is so different, compared to all the other Christmases I've known.
It is the first Christmas that I have a second daughter in law, and a second grandson, in my life.
This has brought many changes into my life... and these are days when I am very much involved in domestic chores again. Because Worshiper and Chosen One live with me, I understand that any help I can extend to them is well appreciated as they adjust to life with a new baby.
And before I knew it, the week of Christmas was upon us. The tree had not yet been put up, my gifts were still waiting to be wrapped, and my Christmas menu had not yet been planned.
We did manage to put up the tree, just a few days before Christmas, and as usual, it turned out to be beautiful.
Obedient One and I hurriedly wrapped gifts on December 24, just one day before Christmas.
We all tried our best to have a meaningful Christmas celebration this year, and thanks to Madorra's culinary skills, we had good and nutritious food on our table for every meal. It also gave me so much joy to have Obedient One around; her being here completes our nuclear family.
During this Christmas week, our whole family tried to have lunch together everyday - me, my two sons First Born and Worshiper and their wives, God-given and Chosen One, my daughter Obedient One, my grandsons, and Madorra, Chosen One's mom.
It was easy to come together for meals because First Born and his family live right next door to us.
Worshiper and I did the marketing, while Madorra and God-given did the cooking. Chosen One baked lots of cookies when she was not breastfeeding her baby and we all did our part in cleaning up afterward.
We ate our traditional Christmas Eve supper with Ernie's sisters Suzette and Leila and their families. It was such a quiet evening with no other agenda than family togetherness - the children played games, we adults sat around the table and shared our thoughts and our memories. The meal as always was delicious and seasoned with so much love.
There was the giving out of gifts, and of course, lots of picture taking.
Before the evening was over, we listened to Pastor Bong read the Christmas story from Luke's gospel, then we sang a Christmas hymn, Silent Night, after which we all hugged and kissed one another before it was time to leave.
First Born and his family went to the home of God-given's parents to spend the rest of the evening with them.
Worshiper, Chosen One, their baby, Madorra, Obedient One and I went back home, and waited for the stroke of midnight while sipping hot cocoa, and munching the Christmas cookies that Chosen One had baked the night before.
On Christmas day, we all had a late lunch, then gathered together in the living room to open our gifts.
Christmas this year was so simple for our family - not too many trimmings, or excesses... but it was full of love, warmth, kindness, understanding for one another.
I am gaining many new insights about friendship as well.
This year I have realized that I could look at one failed friendship and be weighed down by it...
...wallow in self-pity because of the unfair false accusations that are being believed about me,
...take an overly aggressive self-protective stance trying to untie the knots of loose talk going around,
...jump to wrong conclusions without checking the facts,
...respond in irritation and offense at a friend who opts to dump her feelings on me and send lengthy text messages to my phone at a time when I just wanted to enjoy the occasion meaningfully with my family...
OR
I could walk the unbeaten path by deciding to turn my back on all this once and for all,
... embrace kindness,
... be understanding and compassionate,
... leave my case in the hands of the Ultimate Judge,
... and choose the way of peace.
After the Christmas Eve service, I approached the friend that had chosen not to be on speaking terms with me. I touched her arm, smiled at her, and gave her my gift and Christmas card. My heart is still wounded from all the lies she continues to believe about me, but I did not want to walk in disobedience knowing that God clearly commands me to forgive a brother who has wronged me.
It was done as an act of obedience because I wanted to honor God... and to walk the way of peace.
I do not need to defend myself, or set the false records straight. I can walk in peace without doing that. This is not to say that I am perfect, or completely innocent of any wrongdoing in what happened.
Somewhere along the way of the friendship, I must have taken a wrong turn, without intending to. That is why I took the first step and gave my gift, an offering of peace.
Now, I am free to offer my gift for God at the altar, and this I believe is the best way to end this year.
In the year that is to come, God is speaking to me about right alignments. He has clearly said that 2011 is a Year of Promotion.
Therefore, my heart has to be free of false attachments.
False attachments is an unhealthy pre-occupation with self... self-focus, the sin of pride which I believe is the sin that easily entangles.
This Christmas God quietly impressed upon my heart that any desire to keep clearing my name, protecting my reputation, making sure that my image is untarnished, that I am never spoken ill of...vanity, whether in physical looks or in what others think of me... is the sin of pride.
That subtle sin that can keep itself hidden and undetected... the sin that easily entangles.
I came across this amazing, timely comment about pride written by David Rhodes:
Pride is the dandelion of the soul.
Its root goes deep;
only a little left behind sprouts again.
Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks.
To pave the way for promotion, my heart must be cleared of offense... an easily offended heart is a sure sign of pride...Its root goes deep;
only a little left behind sprouts again.
Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks.
The lesson I am learning this Christmas is to let go of my need to be right, or even look right. I can let the wrong impression stay. It's okay. God knows.
I learned this right on Christmas Day... and God was quietly speaking to my heart,
Do you see what I mean, my child? I don't want you to be like that...to be so self-protective...to be so defensive...moving heaven and earth...being so overly upset just because something that is not true was believed about you... My Son went through that... and He survived. You will survive it as well. Trust Me, even in this, and you will see the glorious ending to it. Choose, will you defend yourself, or will you let Me do it?
I am humbled that God would speak these specific words to my heart.
Just a few days ago I did write a post entitled With Open Hands. At the time I was writing it, I felt so unjustly and unfairly treated. I was not willing to be the one to make the first move toward peace.
I won't delete that post, for it shows the progression of how God deals with my heart. Right in the middle of that post, I wrote these two lines:
I learned this right on Christmas Day... and God was quietly speaking to my heart,
Do you see what I mean, my child? I don't want you to be like that...to be so self-protective...to be so defensive...moving heaven and earth...being so overly upset just because something that is not true was believed about you... My Son went through that... and He survived. You will survive it as well. Trust Me, even in this, and you will see the glorious ending to it. Choose, will you defend yourself, or will you let Me do it?
I am humbled that God would speak these specific words to my heart.
Just a few days ago I did write a post entitled With Open Hands. At the time I was writing it, I felt so unjustly and unfairly treated. I was not willing to be the one to make the first move toward peace.
I won't delete that post, for it shows the progression of how God deals with my heart. Right in the middle of that post, I wrote these two lines:
I want the battles that I face to soften my heart,
not to encase it in a protective hard and bitter shell.
I desire to walk away in the dignity that true humility brings,
not in the arrogance of pride.
not to encase it in a protective hard and bitter shell.
I desire to walk away in the dignity that true humility brings,
not in the arrogance of pride.
Within the next few days, I kept praying for God to show me the way. And He did.
As this year ends, I am so thankful that although I have been pretty self-focused the past weeks, nurturing my offended heart, God took time to open my eyes, and to teach me a clear lesson on humility.
Humble is a name my Father gave me at another season of my life...
Humble means to be meek, to be accepting of another person's weaknesses and shortcomings...
It means putting on grace.... to yield... to give way... to let the other person have the right of way... to give him the benefit of the doubt...to put down my self-protective weapons...and to choose the way of peace.
God has comforted me in the midst of the pain I experienced the past months... and this Christmas I am letting go of the pain, and allowing Him to pour the balm of healing on it.
I am enjoying the simple beauty of this season... and above all, the quiet way that He spoke to my heart at the time I needed to hear Him speak to me.
Once again, God stooped down, to rescue me.
You are the love of my life, and the hope that I cling to...
You Are (by Ron Kenoly and Darlene Zschech)
Here are some pictures of our Christmas Eve dinner with Ernie's family:
Chosen One with her mom, Madorra who arrived from Manila to be with her daughter and first grandson for the holidays
My nephew Vince and his wife Rhea
Worshiper and his cousin Jeff
Ernie's sister Leila and her husband Jay
My son First Born, his wife God-given and their son Matthew (Forerunner)
My second son Worshiper, his wife Chosen One and their baby Elijah (Full of Hope)
First Born, Obedient One, me, and Worshiper
Here's my whole family...we're growing!
This is all of us with Ernie's extended family on Christmas Eve. Ernie's only brother Jun and his wife Faith and their children reside in California.
21 comments:
Everything we experience in life Christ has experienced it also. He knows the pain of rejection from family and friends. Christ experienced desertion from those who were closest to Him. Fellow Jews mocked and spit upon Him. He an innocent man was put to death and yet He spoke not a word. Humble and meek He willingly suffered for you and me. Christ knows the pain we have in our heart and will always give comfort.
What a wonderful Savior we have because He cares so much for His children.
Praying for the comfort of Christ to fill your heart this holiday season and into the new year.
Lisa
Lidj,
This writing has truly opened my mind and my heart.
It brought me to tears- yet made me smile.
As I witness what our world "offers" with cruelty to others it is very hard for me to not become judgmental. Yet, I know what I must do..... it is a very hard discipline for myself to "love" them. My husband {Football Superstar} has given me such a gift this Christmas- the gift of support and encouragement when I feel like a lost sheep. To know there are those who are able to comfort us with kind words is huge to me.....but the biggest comfort is knowing that I am loved by our God. His grace and guidance will get us through the muddiest waters..... whether the waters clear this year or next.
Lidj, I pray for you and your family..... and know that you have given me such encouragement, strength and joy when I read your blog.
Blessings.... may you have a wonderful New Year*
Love, Hugs & Peace,
Your friend,
Lis
Lidj, there is so much depth and wisdom in what you write that sometimes I barely know what to say, I just want to let the words soak into my heart for awhile because they really are like a balm to the spirit for me.
I was fascinated to read about your different experiences with Christmas during the different seasons of your life. That says a lot to me as I have been struggling as an adult and mother and as you know in another country than my own, to find the meaning and joy in it all. I am happy to hear it was a blessed Christmas for you and your family and I pray that peace follows you the whole year Lidj.
Also, the words you write on humility and pride touch me so much...I think you are writing for the Lord here on this blog, He is using you and your experiences to touch hearts and souls. I know I feel that way at least and I wish I knew you personally...to laugh with, talk with and learn from.
I will pray for you in this coming year. God bless you.
Love Colleen
Thank you so much for this post...so much of it speaks directly to my heart this morning...so much of it I could have written as my own.
This Christmas was a mix of many things...my youngest age 4's delight, and still the adjustment of a married child, where my daughter-in-law and I are still finding our way...I had to die to some traditions I had hoped would follow my adult children into their homes...that was hard, but as your statement above..Pride is concerned with who is right...and I don't want pride to enter my heart...I am choosing humility this morning through my tears and quiet mouth.
Thanks for always sharing your heart...I learn, I grow and I hear God through your words, as He speak to me.
Blessings in this new year and your promotion!!!
I always learn a tremendous amount when I visit you. So thankful your Christmas was a blessed one. I love that you were able to listen to what God was teaching you. I know you must miss your Ernie every day. I'm deeply sorry for your loss.
Lidj,
I love your reflections of the different seasons of Christmas celebrations. I'm struggling to accept the changing seasons. But my focus is off of the blessings God has given, even in the midst of difficult health issues. He is my strength, if I will only lean on Him.
I love your heartfelt lesson this Christmas with the quote:
"Pride is the dandelion of the soul.
Its root goes deep;
only a little left behind sprouts again.
Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks.
The lesson I am learning this Christmas is to let go of my need to be right, or even look right. I can let the wrong impression stay. It's okay. God knows."
As I'm digging into an understanding of the "fear of the Lord"....I'm realizing how this is a tool to uproot pride in my life and create a soil for humility. My own pride and vanity need to be consistently looked at and uprooted like a dandelion. Thanks for the analogy and the quote.
Your thoughts and prayers this Christmas is much needed. I won't tell Judith's story. She needs to do it with you herself. But be praying for her. God knows all the details as you lift her up.
Blessings,
Amy
These photos are lovely, Lidj. What a wonderful family gathering. I'm sorry Ernie and his only brother missed it. Thank you for your love and prayers for me and mine.
Amy
Lidj - I hardly know where to begin. Let me just start by saying that your have such a lovely family! Everyone looked so happy! This Christmas I found this to once again be true - it's the simple pleasures of family and fellowship that are the best gifts!
I think you did a wonderful thing reaching out to the person who has offended you. Did this person respond to your gift? In the end, it matters not, in a way. The important thing is what God did in your heart, and what He is teaching you. I have never thought of myself as a real proud person - but oh, how God has been showing me what pride really looks like. Worrying about what others think of me, seeking the approval of people, looking for attention - these are the more subtle shades of pride. The ones that God must weed out in me.
Your title speaks it all - I want to learn the dignity of humility - and to emulate the humble Savior. The One who laid His reputation, His popularity, His LIFE aside - just to save us.
I loved your phrase - "right alignments" - that's what I want. To have my priorities straight, to line my will up with HIS!
GOD BLESS!
((((hugs)))) I am so glad God gave you that word. He is so faithful and so wonderful!
Merry Christmas a few days late, and Happy New Year.
Hi Lidj, God is birthing new things in your life and it's time for a change, new beginnings, new things to look forward to, how exciting Lidj. The pics that you have posted show so much joy . . and joy can only come from God . . lots of blessings are wished upon you and your beautiful family with the adorable addition of Elijah. Matthew has grown so much so quick. Just a cutie!
p.s. Our humble acts only will gain us respect but in the right way.
Merry Christmas Lidj and lots of love, Sandy:O)
wow Lidj...your post is so packed full of wisdom. I read it with eyes wide open...and my heart open as well. I love so much of what you said but what really hit me was, "I want the battles that I face to soften my heart,
not to encase it in a protective hard and bitter shell." Me too. I want that too....Thank you Lidj for sharing your heart...your journey...your words that totally inspire me to live my best life. Wishing you and your wonderful family a new year filled with His absolute best.
Dear Lidj,
Thanks for you profound sharing from the depth of your life.
I am comforted by your struggles and the way you win the battles by the help of the Lord
Even though I'm older, I haven't reached this far.
My pride is a giant field of dandelions,
both the Lord and I have some tough gardening to deal with.
If nothing else, that makes me see how great God's grace is, and I can but hope for some small improvements. But, then again, I would probably boast about that too.
You've been blessed with a wonderful family, and I can see you are happy together. That little wonder, "Full of Hope", I feel blessed every time I see him.
Yours Felisol
I, too, could identify with much of what you wrote. I am devastated by my failure to love as Christ loved. I am aware of my failure to match the words that come so easily off my "fingertips" with my reality. I am humbled by my glaring tendencies to defend MYself and seek affirmation from others.
I turn again and again to the One who is in me and greater than he that is in the world. I cry out for His strength. I claim the victory over the world, the flesh and the devil in the powerful and holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior and my only Hope.
The pictures here show the beauty of your country, your home and your family God bless you, dear Lidj.
Lidj, you're so right. What matters most is how He sees us...not how others see us.
Still, I find myself rushing to my own defense when all I really need to do is rest in His love and allow Him to be my Defender.
Happy New Year, friend!
Sweet dreams.
Beautiful pictures and beautiful family. Thanks for your prayers and friendship to me. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful and blessed New Year in 2011 too!
Hugs,
Silver
Precious Memories. Sweet family. You are not only a blessing... you are truly blessed.
Blessings for the new year, my dear Lidj
Lidia! It is with such gladness that I find your words. I immersed into what you wrote, and the pictorial of family. And I LOVED it!
Near the end, you discussed briefly Pride and Humility. Funny thing, only today i re-heard the definition of humility as: NOT thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself LESS.
Hope that sounds the same meaning in Philippines.
And PRIDE...WOW! The Great grandfather of all sin. The first EVER sin. Oh, how guilty of that am I. Thank you greatly for bringing these to my attention tonight.
(Yes, we have 'talked' prior to now, Lidj). I pray that all who love you--that includes me!-- receive the gift of a HAPPY NEW YEAR, since nothing is deserved by me, only given...to promote the will of God Who made all things!
Christmas memories... beautiful, thanks for sharing them, even the tough ones. I feel as if I missed my Christmas this year; mostly, I'm OK with that, as sometimes the trappings weigh me down rather than lift me up. I'm ready for the promise of a new year and what awaits us all. I know that God can be trusted with each new day; he has been faithful to bring us through so much this year.
How thankful I am for a faith that takes hold rather than releases in times of crisis. God is good and his goodness has been abundantly clear to us in the last year.
May the joy, love, and favor of all heaven rest upon you, friend, as you cross this threshold into a new year.
peace~elaine
oh, i so love your blog! beautiful family, too! i look forward to returning to read more of your writings. May Jesus fill your sweet family and life in the coming year with His joy and presence!
I love looking at your family photos....beautiful!
Have a wonderful New Year*
Blessings to you and your growing family!!
xoxo
Lis
Lidj,
You are always two steps ahead of me:) I have wondered about this past year and a half, what I am to learn, what I am to sift through - what God wants me to learn. Sifting is a good word - or maybe panning for God, or like harvesting cranberries - slowly God reveals and the lesson surfaces. I'm going to turn this over in my mind more - and when I have fully grasped it, I will share it with you.
I am so happy with how you handled your difficult situation. I would think that now you can walk away in peace. Beautiful courage!
And your Christmas, your pictures, your family, and your heart! I will tell you that I grew up with my grandmother (my mom, brother and I after age 5) - and I was so blessed by it! What a heart opportunity!
Christmas was very sweet this season! May that sweetness continue through 2011!
I also wanted to tell you of the joy and anticipation I feel towards 2011 - the liberation from a season of darkness. I welcome the light, the hope and the joy!
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