While the rest of the family are on a mad dash to the nearby malls for their Christmas' shopping (if you guys managed to realize that I own this blog, I want a Nintendo wii), I decided to stay in and act like the homebody I was for nearly 30 years of my life.
After getting up around midnoon or so, I watched a couple of dvds and decided to attend Mass.
Now, I'm not a total stranger to attending Mass alone, but it does feel strange to be going at it by my lonesome after spending every Sunday with family. Still, attending Mass is the right thing to do before I join in commercializing Christ's date of birth.
During Mass, my favorite moment is the 'giving of peace'. While the Gospel is probably the most important (being the spreading of the Good News) and the Holy Communion right next to it, I always believed that giving peace to others is just as important. What brings it close to my heart is the interaction between the Church community if not just the family or the couple exchanging peace.
As I stood at the back of the last pews, I saw this family giving peace to each other. They kissed and they hugged. It's pretty much the same way with my family although not as smooth as theirs. It was a wonderful sight to behold. They radiated love and peace. Children reaching out to their parents and parents taking them into their arms. Truly, God is in the center of their family.
While i always believed that it's important to have God in the center of our lives, whether personal, acamedic, professional and whatnot, I felt that it's most important to have God in the center of your family life.
Often, we hear stories of families not getting along together. Parents aloof to their children; Children disrespectful of their parents. We hear stories of abuse, of quarrels, separation and others more of a terrible nature.
As I look at this particular family, hugging and giving peace in front of me, I could not imagine them going through those same problems other families go through. And there is only one possible explanation: God is in the center of their family life.
God is love. How can family members hurt each other with God at the center of them, blessing them, and placing familial love in their hearts?
Until recently, my family was no different than any other which did not have God in the center of their existence. There was disrespect, mistrust, and anger amongst us. Often, our family teetered on the brink of dissolution. We lived in one house but we were all detached. There was so much hate in our hearts I've always thought it a miracle that we've survived intact up to now.
I look at other families who do not have God in their midst and see practically the same thing. Why is that? I believe it's because they do not accept God among them; they do not accept love.
Do you have problems with your family? Can you point out the reason for those problems? Is it really the finances? Or is it disrespect and lack of trust? Is there still love among you? Have you, as a family, gone to mass or worship recently? Or have you chosen not to have the time?
I can't really judge any one given family, but if there's one thing I've noticed, is that any family who acknowledges and works to keep God and faith in the center of their existence have peace, humility and love amongst them. The same way I'm hoping our family would have for years to come.
God bless you and your family.
