8th day of December

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As the song goes, "Baby it's cold outside!" 🎶 Oh yes, 50 degrees and everyday is getting colder. Christmas season 2024 is here, and as usual I wish myself and everyone to have a "merry little Christmas."🎼🎵

As we speak, Louie and I decided to go to Santee, one of the most beautiful towns in South Carolina. During fall and summer time, we walk around Santee state park with our dogs and enjoying the amazing scene of Lake Marriott at least once a week. But not when the temperature is this low. Then as of always when we visit Santee we eat at Cracker Barrell. During winter their beautiful fireplace is on and is perfectly providing warmth in every corner of the diner. I just love it, I told Louie every time he brings me to lunch during yultide season most especially when there is a fireplace instead of just heaters to heat up the place. After enjoying our lunch, we both dropped by to shop at the Santee's iconic hotel gift shop where I buy tiny little something to gift our few close elderly friends in the nursing homes, and in the church.

When I was a kid, I enjoyed receiving a lot of presents during Christmas time. But as I grow older, knowing I'm no longer a child and as I come to understand the story of Christmas, what comes to my mind is that myself, all that I am in me, my heart, my life and my existence... is a special gift that I can offer to little Jesus in this life time. 

Through the years,  since childhood, I saw my parents giving presents to the poor among our relatives, the people who have worked for us and those people around our city who were in need. With what I saw, I thought my parents were very wealthy. The truth was they were just rich when it comes to giving. Through the years, in my heart, Christmas is not about receiving gifts but more about giving and sharing a part of our blessings especially to the poorest of the poor, the elderly and the deprived children in our community.

The other day, I met this lady in church who told me it's very cold morning as we hurriedly headed to the church door to attend the first Friday mass. As we chatted a bit, she told me we just have to be thankful for everything. I added, that there are people who don't have what we are blessed and what we are enjoying right now. She agreed with me- and we both wished each other a beautiful and safe day.

May this Christmas brings love, healing spiritual joy and forgiveness to all of us.


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!












Marie Tan-Hancock is a self published author & motivation speaker for seniors ( group, churches, nursing homes facilities, day care centers, etc.) She will be releasing her sixth book "One Way Traffic" a Senior inspiration, in the mid year of 2025 (when God is willing).


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