Friday, January 12, 2007 Christmas gifts By Rene Lizada Papa's Table
WHAT were your gifts last Christmas? What did your spouse, your children give you? What presents did your friends give you? The presents that you get show a lot about you.
For the past several years my children have been giving me books, spiritual ones mostly. I sometimes chuckle when I think of that. I have asked myself so many times why do my children give me these kinds of books. Is it because they think I am spiritual?
Or is it because they feel the need that I need to be spiritual? But that has always been the case with my children. With my wife it is a completely different thing. My wife gives me odd gifts maybe because she knows me well enough.
Last Christmas it was a little different though. Last Christmas my wife gave me a DVD of that Japanese epic, Yoshitsune. Why did she give me that? Well I asked for it. As I said I have this suspicion that I was Japanese in one of my previous lives.
I have not watched it though because I am finding the right time for it. When I watch it I want it to be a marathon. The other thing that my wife gave me was long pillow, the one that you can make "tanday." It has this almost obscene purple pillowcase. Why the pillow? Because years ago I gave her one and lately I have been using it, so she decided to get one for me. Why the obscene pillowcase? She had no choice. It was the only one big enough.
Eps and Gabo gave me something I cannot mention. That is a family secret. But I was laughing when I got it. Only those two can think of something like that.
Miguel gave me a book. And because it is Miguel it is a book that is profound and touching. I have been reading it slowly because that is the only way to read it. It is not easy reading but deep reflection is its consequence and I love the book.
It was written by a priest named Henri Nouwen. The book is entitled, The Return of the Prodigal Son. I am still in the middle of the book even if I started reading the book last Christmas. It is such a great book written in simple language yet it cuts to the core of our souls.
The book is all about Nouwen's thoughts and emotions when he saw Rembrandt's painting of the Prodigal Son. The book talks about the two sons and their father. It is a wonderful book and there are so many things that we can learn from the.
Currently I am taking down notes for future articles on the book itself. If you can find the book, get a copy. It is worth the time and the reflection. And I thank Migoy.
Last Christmas my wife and I got a surprise gift from my aunt who lives in the States. She gave us a book written by the pastor of Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen. The book is titled, Your Best Life Now. It is a very practical book, with practical lessons and deep insights. I think I saw the book in one of the bookstores. I would like to thank my Auntie Nita for sharing that book with us.
I have to say that Christmas this year was a blur. It went so fast and so quickly that I had not enough time to savor the moments. Maybe because I really do not get into the Christmas spirit until my family is complete. And Migoy usually comes home when it is almost Christmas.
And when we were complete the flurry of things just overwhelmed us. We had to finish the dawn masses, Chona had to work extra because it is frantic time in her place of work when Christmas comes.
The kids were free from schoolwork. Parties here and there. Food and more food. I swear I gained so many pounds last Christmas. Thank God we did not have to do so much shopping. But we had to do a lot of things. Last Christmas was really a blur.
Amidst all these my wife and I were talking and we wished for a quiet Christmas. And that is something, which I really want. In some quiet monastery where the candles are flickering and the only sound you hear is the wind blowing.
I wish I could gather my wife and my children and we would go somewhere peaceful and serene and pray and celebrate Christmas the way it was meant to be. In silent reflection, in gratitude and in wonder. But if we do that I know my kids will probably go mad. Maybe it is my age but I long for silence and quietness.
