Thankful for the Season and the Reason

by: Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban

Happy holidays are just around the corner, the most awaited season of the year—Christmas and New Year. Some of us express gratitude for the numerous blessings we receive, including our 13th month pay, gifts, groceries, de minimis benefits, and other bonuses. These are the material things we are thankful for, but there are greater reasons to celebrate the season.

On Christmas Day, Christians commemorate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who came to the world as a precious gift from God above. The Holy Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” His mission is not only to live in this world but to lead the people closer to God so that they may know Him and let them experience the abundant life under the covering and ways of God. Christ’s ultimate showing of his love for God’s people is his being the sacrificial lamb so that once and for all, people, although sinners, can come to God through the cleansing of the blood of the Lamb. This sacrifice for having access to God is what Christians are truly thankful for.  The nation honors the birth and death of heroes, but even more so for Christ, who not only made sacrifices for a particular nation, but also for the entirety of humanity, not just for his own generation but also for generations to come. How then do we show thankfulness for God’s love for us? Some express their gratitude by giving gifts to others, donating goods to the needy, celebrating, and spending quality time with their loved ones. However, beyond these tangible things, we can show our thankfulness to God by giving thanks and praise to Him, by devoting and giving time to commune with Him through His Holy Scriptures, by asking for forgiveness and forgiving others who have sinned against us, by extending kindness to others, and ultimately, by walking in His ways according to His precepts and His will.

This season, let us contemplate and reflect on the goodness of God in our lives—all the provision, protection, progress, promotion, and life lessons. Count our blessings and be deeply thankful for all that God has done. Let us resolve to be better persons—reflecting the image and likeness of God—so that the new year 2025 will indeed be a fresh start and a new season to be thankful.

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