By Gabriella Tamayo
The weather outside might be frightful, but do we know the reason for the season? As Christmas draws near, the anxiety of choosing a gift for your best friend while worrying about that big test next week can start to make us lose focus on the very event that is being celebrated.
Around this time of year, I can’t help but be excited! There are so many Christmas cards to fill out, songs to sing, ugly sweaters to wear, shopping to be done that I can practically feel the excitement buzzing all around me! But sometimes we need to take a step back and smile. Jesus’ birthday is coming up faster than we think!
As a junior in high school, it’s pretty hard to get time to do anything. It feels like we are bombarded with work, especially from the lovely AP courses. School almost seems more stressful than it actually is given the limited amount of time we have to study for the SAT exam and start our college search. In conclusion, we all have hectic schedules and struggle to pinch an extra hour of sleep into it.
However, I believe that no matter what age you are, we all can agree on one thing – we are busy people. Not only are we busy people, but we are extra busy people. We can find ourselves lost between everything happening and honestly, it’s hard to keep up. Who doesn’t like to go holiday shopping for a loved one or possibly yourself? What about the Christmas event your school is holding? Don’t forget that essay you have to write! You also better remember about those glorious midterms coming up after Christmas break! This is the moment in time where I sit back and look up to the heavens and ask for help. Believe it or not, I received my help in a very subtle way.
In a recent homily, the priest urged us to “make time for Christ.” Although we are in the season of Advent, it’s easy to lose sight of the time Jesus wants to share with us. We find ourselves stuck in a nutshell that even a nutcracker struggles with all simply because we live busy lives and tend to get lost.
As teenagers, it’s hard to find our way through difficult situations. I suggest utilizing the moments of life where you aren’t doing much.
Take a break from the stress and talk to God on the walk home, or on the trip to the next class. It helps me calm down and really reflect on my life. I try to pray every day, but I admit to forgetting due to my mind racing with the constant flow of thoughts and assignments.
I often pray a simple prayer for strength, courage, hope and happiness. Prayer, along with the entirety of my faith, has helped me get this far in life with the challenges and all. It’s a bumpy ride and surely isn’t easy. The closer I grow to God, the calmer I feel inside. Pieces of the puzzle start fitting and I can concentrate better. All of a sudden this busy season isn’t so busy.
I propose a challenge – let us make time for Christ and allow Him to help us. He’s waiting for each and every one of us despite our differences.
As Christmas continues to creep closer, let us focus on what we’re celebrating. If our hearts and minds are in the right place this season, our focus will be dedicated to the important things.
Yes, we still have other important tasks at hand, but it’s good to remember that no matter what we do, Jesus is with us and will never stop loving us.
I can only believe that He wishes we remember Him this Christmas and to truly keep Christ in Christmas. After all, Jesus truly is the reason for the season.
Gabriella Tamayo is a junior at St. Agnes Academic H.S., College Point.