THE almost two weeks of the Christmas holiday were full of family and friends' gatherings. If before, I utilized the "no class" days to check students' requirements and prepare ahead of time quizzes and activities, this time, I opted to just stay late at night watching television with my family, wake up late in the morning, and eat breakfast together.
The precious time I have enjoyed made me contemplate on a few things.
1. Last week was the longest time I watched my mother as she was preparing the foods to serve. Her face is getting older, and she already has white hair. She starts to move slowly and gets tired easily. I am saddened to know that I have spent much of my time working, failing to see the changes in her. I have realized that I missed my Mommy so much.
2. There were moments that when I saw my youngest son in the living room, I hurried to stay in the same place. But in a few minutes, I find him going to his room, and then when I also stay there, eventually, he transfers to another area at home. And so, I said, "Can you stay here anak?" And he answered me “Mama, bakit kung nasaan ako, nandoon ka?” I realized that my son was already grown-up. I expected he would still plead with me to stay wherever he was.
3. On Christmas eve, we were all delighted. My husband, daughter Bea, and son Macoy played games with gift surprises. All along, I thought everybody was joyful because I could hear them all cheering. But then I saw my daughter Bea go to her room secretly, and I listened to her sobbing because of his boyfriend, who failed to call at 12:00 midnight. I realized that my daughter has changed; she can battle for her own fight and hide how she feels.
4. Because of my health condition, my family decided for me not to eat much of our food preparations. So, I remained eating only healthy foods, which meant I could not eat all. Now, I took the chance to follow what is right, without arguments, unlike before. I realized that I could help my family stay happy if I chose to be healthy and live longer.
But sad, before the new year, I had difficulty breathing, and my blood pressure was up to 180/100. God, I felt my son's tight embrace as he was whispering to me, “Mama, I will stay here, magbabantay ako sa iyo ha.” It was good to know that he chose to be right beside me. I was wrong that his change meant less loving me. Yeah, he is still the little boy who never lets go of me. And my daughter was also there to take my blood pressure with my husband, holding my hand so tight.
I guess the two-week break was actually God's plan to help me realize why it is so good to pause and not be preoccupied with work, not to watch the clock move and rush in life. Life is a beautiful gift from God to cherish and value every minute by spending it with our loved ones. Our time is limited; let us not spend it on things that will not ever give us eternal joy.
So, let us all welcome this new year 2022 by thinking or giving importance to what really can give us everlasting happiness. And let us begin to work on it now. Life is too short to be unhappy.