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When I was a kid, Christmas meant receiving gifts, roller blading on the streets that were full of kids lightening firecrackers each night, and listening to “aguinaldos” and “gaitas” (Venezuelan Christmas music). It also meant eating “hallacas” (special Venezuelan food that is cooked wrapped in banana leaves) together with ham bread. And the best of all was the gifts that Child Jesus would bring us on Christmas day, gifts we asked Him through a nicely written and well-thought “Letter to Child Jesus”. Certainly, a very joyful time with the family. And I guess it is still like that, with some variations, for many people with young kids. For adults, all seemed to be a big party.

However, the Christmas message thus conceived is somehow distorted. It is indeed a joyful time to spend with family and friends, but to celebrate the coming of Jesus, born as a child over 2000 years ago, should be a time to give thanks to God. Not only because all the good news He brought, but also for all the blessings and favours He has provided, and keep providing, to us.

This is why we were all so touched when we read the “Letter to Child Jesus” that our 14-year old Goddaughter wrote this year:

“Dear Child Jesus, I first thought of listing all the things I wanted to have for this Christmas, but then I realised that I don’t need those things. I have clothes, food, mobile phone, money, shoes, and many other things. So, I decided that I am not going to ask for anything but rather to give You thanks for everything You have given me. Thank you for my parents and my family; thank you for giving me another day and another year; thanks for bringing my aunt and my uncle to Orlando; thanks for all the good health of my family. One little thing I want to ask you is that You comfort my aunt Yiyo and her family and soothe their pain due to what happened to Carla and ask you not to allow it to happen again. With gratitude, Maria R.”

Merry Christmas!