My Christmas Story: Perseverance
Each year just keeps on getting better.
The gifts I receive each Christmas just keep pouring. Last year I had the gift of faith; I got to know Christ my savior better. He, the reason for celebrating these festivities, touched my heart and I have never been the same ever since. The year before that I landed on Singapore soil and was able to earn more than I previously did. This translated to better living conditions for my family, and my brother’s education. This year, my brother too, came to Singapore and found a job a month later. His girlfriend soon joined him, also found a job, and now I have more siblings to chat and be crazy with.
This Saturday I will be boarding a flight to Macau with a friend, and we will celebrate Christmas there, along with my sweetheart who is flying in from Manila. From there we will backpack and explore 3 other cities of China. I take this vacation knowing that 4 months from now, my parents will be moving in to a new house. It is more comfortable and roomy than the one we are currently squatting on. It will also be the first house that we own.
A decade ago, I only dreamed of these things. I was in the first of my college years. Our carenderia was demolished a few months back, and we had no home, no source of income. My tertiary education was paid by the people’s taxes. That helped a lot, but I still needed money for my allowance and school projects. All throughout college most of my spare time was spent either as a student assistant, a mall cashier, a part-time Math or English tutor, or a stay-home maker of Chinese bracelets and necklaces. Apart from that, I also earned extra income by making school banners and joining art and writing contests. Times were hard, but I realized later that God has given me enough to withstand the trials. Despite the hardship, I kept my dreams.
It is not only the material aspect of my life that improved. The sometimes-bitter relationship I had with my mother was healed and I slowly began to understand her. I grew closer to my father and brother. I kept my close friends even with the distance between us. Friendster, Yahoo, Gmail, and Facebook have become very handy in keeping those friendship ties. For me, relationships are my most treasured valuables.
But still it gets lonely here sometimes. The latest financial crisis has hit most of us OFWs, leaving many jobless or with little spare money to send home. Job prospects and salary raises look bleak. I learned of a Filipino family living here: the wife was diagnosed with cancer of the brain, their daughter has autism, and the father was recently one of the casualties of Citibank’s lay-offs. As I say my prayers for them I also thank God for the gift of health. I pray for all OFWs and their families. May God strengthen us spiritually that we may withstand all trials and keep our relationships healthy and solid even as we strive to improve on the financial aspects of our lives.
May each new year bring more blessings to all of us! May we keep on dreaming, and may all of our dreams come true. If you feel that things are difficult now, keep persevering! God bless!
