Home, hope and the holidays

KEEPING THE FAITH The essence of family, joy and hope at Christmas is even more meaningful to Benedict Sison this year. —contributed photo

I have always believed that Christmas is a time for family, joy and hope. Given the challenging year we’ve had, I was looking forward to relishing all these positive emotions as the “ber” months rolled in, signaling the start of the holiday season for us here in the Philippines.

However, life threw me for a loop in the morning of Oct. 28, 2021 with a devastating news: my younger sister, Anna Maria, learned of a mass in her ovary that could potentially take a toll on her life.

It was quite disorienting. I could not have predicted that my youngest sister, who appeared so healthy and strong, would be inflicted with a pending malignancy. It pained me to think that I might just survive a younger sibling whose life has still a lot to offer. She is currently a practicing dentist in California.

Growing up, Anna Maria and I were very close, perhaps because we were just a little over a year apart. I am the 12th and she is the 13th in a family of 14 children. When we were little, we would always play together and were very protective of each other.

The closeness remained even after we both moved abroad. She always made sure we stayed in touch, and we would talk about anything and everything. She was never remiss in reminding me to observe prayer and gratitude, the very same things that helped her stay strong during this challenging moment in her life.

Prayer gave her hope and gratitude gave her strength. As a trusted confidant, I could only assure her that my wife Candy and I would always be there for her and that there was nothing that we wouldn’t do for her. “Taga-Sun Life ako, (I’m with Sun Life) so don’t worry,” I once joked. “I will make the sun shine for you and make sure that brighter days await you!”

In the same way that an ordeal strengthened the Holy Family, Anna Maria’s health condition brought our family closer. We, her loving siblings and close friends, cared and prayed for her throughout the process. Candy and I even hurried to buy airline tickets to be with her in the States and join the family for Christmas. All these kept Anna Maria’s spirits high even in the darkest of times.

Remembering the first Christmas

In times like this, we only need to look back to the birth of Jesus to know how challenges lead us to discern what matters most to us. The situation was likewise not ideal for Mary and Joseph back then. In fact, the Holy Family was not even home for the holidays during the first Christmas ever. They had to travel miles away to get to Bethlehem, but they found no room at the inn and had to settle in a stable with a manger serving as a crib. Then, days later, they had to flee to Egypt to save themselves.

It was an experience filled with brokenness, rejection and sorrow. And yet, it was in this deprived and humble setting that God became one of us. Perhaps, it is in the humility of our hearts that we are able to make a home for Him in our lives. And this is what makes being home for Christmas truly meaningful.

Our circumstances today may be different, yet we are likewise facing difficulties. 2021 has been a grueling year for many of us. We are stressed. We are exhausted. And for many, like Anna Maria, health was a foremost concern.

On Nov. 15, Anna Maria underwent total hysterectomy, the results of which delivered the good news that the malignancy of her cancer is only at stage 1. It was contained and does not require radiation or chemotherapy.

What a blessing! Her prayers —and ours—were heard.

Candy and I personally rejoiced when we heard the good news. We were not anymore weighed down by the heaviness of grief, but filled with gratitude for having our beautiful sister survive the ordeal. When we are in the midst of a challenging time, it can be difficult to see the lessons we are meant to learn. This is where faith comes in as it prompts us to believe that there is a reason for everything that happens to us. Seeing my sister keep her faith has reminded me of this.

And just like that, the essence of family, joy and hope at Christmas became even more meaningful to me. These are exactly what we need right now, given the challenging state of affairs.

We need to make room for joy in our hearts, rekindle our hope for brighter days ahead, and realize that with this pandemic, our family and friends have become more precious to us.

The news of the Omicron variant has led Candy and I to postpone our US trip to 2022, but we still look forward to our virtual Christmas get-together with the family to celebrate Anna Maria’s healing. In gratitude, she shares her new life with us for the family to have a joyful celebration.

We may not be physically together, but just the same, we will be “home” for the holidays. That, in itself, is a gift.

May you all enjoy the gift of Christmas. —contributed