The time of the year...

It's that time of the year again. I flipped on the television and unexpectedly, Christmas movies were showing. And their themes are almost always the same-romance, romance and romance (plus a lot of kisses and bed scenes).

Saw a friend posted: 平安夜，失身夜.

Perhaps people have always thought of this as a magical moment, a time when happily-ever-after will come true. For some, to get this happily-ever-after, it means sacrificing themselves or indulging in physical pleasure.

Are these really the meaning of 25th December?

Growing up, I was never really exposed to religion. Of course, there's the Chinese rituals but I'd never believed in them. Then, I met God. 

Has it become easy after that? I was happy and blessed to found Him but at the same time, I was in dilemma.

Some said: Christmas is the time of the year when we remember Jesus Christ, the son of God who died willingly on the cross for our sin. 

Some said: It's wrong to celebrate Christmas. It originated from pagan. If you truly believe in Him, you shouldn't be involved in this. 

Which to believe? I'm still clueless. It's pathetic to be stuck in this sort of dilemma that I really want to laugh at myself. Perhaps my mum sensed my confusion. All she said was: Pray, dear, with prayers, you'll find the answers. 

Christmas or not, I'm still holding on to my faith. People may say that we are delusional, we believe in the happy story and block out the cruel reality. It's not like that. I'd experienced it myself and I believe that though reality may be cruel but faith is a funny thing. It strikes you when you least expected it and though life is horrible, it helps to know that there is someone watching over you and you know that you'll overcome it no matter what. A good father is one who lets you fall so that you'll know the lesson behind it and grows up instead of lock you in safety zone and let you be a pampered child. 

To think that now people treat Christmas and commercialised it that way is heartbreaking. To think that this celebration inflicts a religious spat is disappointing. To think that fellow brothers and sisters carry a worried heart and mind to church to celebrate this event for fear that a bomb will be planted is daunting.

Merry Christmas, everyone :) Let this be a time of giving thanks, blessing and love :) 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. Thank God :)

PS: Not all Christmas movies are that bad lah. Please don't generalise the above statement. God bless :)