What is a promise means?

Christmas is on the air. This will be the second Christmas with out my father. He passed away on December 25, 2009. Since then, I lost enthusiasm to celebrate the holiday. I don’t forget the reason why there is Christmas and the meaning stays in my heart; I just don’t have the heart to put decorations in my house. Last Christmas we just went to church eat dinner and then, sleep in the midst of fire works above our heads.

Christmas was one of my favorite holidays; I like how the people shared their blessings to the less fortunate. I love to hear the carols in the street. The Christmas décor makes my heart sing with the Christmas song. But after my father died on this very day, it becomes a sad day for me. I don’t have the energy for the occasion. I am still glad the spirit of Christmas never left me.

Up to this day, I am still musing why my father choose to left the most celebrated day. I remembered one of my conversations with Papa; it was one morning in his room. Papa was an early riser, he used to get up early drank his morning coffee and walk around the house talking to his plants and then sit under the coconut tree and watch the sun shine. If my mother loves flowers my father loves fruits and trees around the house. I wondered why Papa did not get up early that day. I went to his room and asked him how he was feeling? “He replied he was too tired to walk around and too cold to go out for the morning breeze. I think my end is very near”. I tried to lighten his mood, I told him come on Papsi, don’t talk like that. You told me to cook Lechon (Pig dish) for Lucy’s first birthday. He just smiled at me, I continued and there is Christmas. Then my father told me in a very soft and calm voice, Lucy’s birthday is too far “NENG” (my nickname) I can not stay that long anymore, and yes we will be together on Christmas day.

I left my father in his room and cried in silent in my room. I felt like my father is not joking. Although, he used to tell me he is dying but that day I felt something different. And true to his words even my father was in the hospital but we still with him on Christmas day and left us in the afternoon on the same day. I miss my father so much. Until now as I am typing these words, I still have pain in my heart.

But this Christmas something enlighten my heart and let me understand why my father left us on Christmas because he promised to me he will be with us on that special day and he always keep his promise. Since he was admitted in the hospital, they revived him not once but several times. God grant his wishes for the last time and I should be thankful on that.

So this Christmas, I decided to celebrate it with joy and happiness in my heart with my family, and with the memory of my father. I know papa will be happy to see me moving on. And I will always remember that a promise is a promise. In memory of my father, I should honor every word I uttered to my fellow men.

Merry Christmas every one!

Happy holidays!