Unwelcome Guest: Christmas Greetings 2024

(Below is our family newsletter that we sent to family and friends.)

Here is our yearly family Christmas greetings and newsletter.

A1 (daughter) has been under Florida’s sun for more than a year now. Even though she lives near the ocean, you’ll find her in an ocean of books instead, as she works as a librarian at Nova Southeastern University. You might think she should be enjoying a place with eternal summer, but interestingly, she misses the changing seasons and the cold air. Too bad there is no snow in South Florida.

A2 (son) has been spending long hours mixing and analyzing chemicals in the lab in his final year of Biochemistry at Iowa State University. He has been burning the midnight oil, which is good, and not the laboratory building. He plans to further his education and is currently in the process of applying, or should I say begging medical schools to let him in. If only a song and dance would do.

E (wife) keeps herself busy with home projects. Her task of clearing our home library has been a long, drawn-out process. Every time she sifts through the stacks of papers and books, nostalgia seizes her, and she cannot let go of all the homework and writings of our kids from their homeschooling days. It’s hard to throw away memories, so she puts them in boxes – a lot of boxes.

As for me, I am still plodding along. After three decades of lugging a stethoscope around my neck, it gets heavy sometimes, especially after a sleepless night call in the ICU that makes me dream of retiring. Sleep is precious – I should follow my own advice as a sleep specialist.

My wife and I have reached a significant milestone this year: we are celebrating our 30th anniversary. God has blessed us and has been a constant guest in our home.

Speaking of guests, let me share a story.

It was Christmas Day 2023. My whole family was under one roof again. My daughter from Florida flew back home to join us for the holidays. My son was home for the Christmas break from college. Our family was hosting a Christmas gathering with some Filipino friends. It was the first time we would host a party in our home again after a few years of the COVID pandemic.

My wife was busy cooking in the kitchen. My daughter was dusting the furniture while my son was buffing the metal doors of the refrigerator and stove to make them shine, as their mother ordered them to. We want everything perfect for the party.

And me? My assignment was to kill the unwanted guest who unceremoniously entered our home. But before you think of me killing someone, the intruder that I was alluding to was a fly. After several swings with the fly swatter, I got rid of the unwelcome guest.

Do you have unwanted guests? Many times, in our busyness, we have no time to reflect on the reason why we even celebrate this holiday. As we gather with family and friends, may we not relegate Jesus as an unwelcome guest to our festivities but rather as the center of our celebration and of our hearts.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Purposeful New Year.