Your mantra for the week: “This is my Merriest Christmas ever which I am extending till next Christmas.”

 

Sison’s greetings to you, dear reader! If suddenly you smile and feel good and you are not quite sure why, it might have something to do with the happy little prayer and love I will be sending your way today.

 

A Christmas prayer: As I celebrate Christmas so joyously in the outer, I will remember that the joy I feel truly comes from the Christ within me, because this phase of me is called Love and I am now committing myself to love this Christmas.

 

A commitment to love means:

 

I forgive and release everything and everyone that has ever hurt me one way or another, wittingly or unwittingly;

 

Believing there is only God (the Good) in the Universe; and seeing the Christ in everyone at their best and/or at their worst;

 

Seeing beauty in all of life’s creations;

 

Accepting myself exactly as I am unconditionally; and trusting that only good can come to me while expressing kindness and goodwill to all;

 

Sharing my abundance and radiating Light through all my talents and abilities;

 

And, like Jesus of Nazareth, I, too, can become the Christ, through love.

 

 

‘A Christmas Carol’

 

Congratulations to Globe Live and 9 Works Theatrical for its production of the Christmas musical, “A Christmas Carol”—one of Charles Dickens’ novels that has never been out of print and has been adapted many times to film, stage and opera.

 

Miguel Faustmann gives a stunning performance as Ebenezer Scrooge.

 

The Christmas season is so busy, I did not even realize that I would be watching this fabulous show. It took 8-year-old Dewayde Dizon to ask me to watch him play Tiny Tim in this musical. He whispered that he had “decreed” to get the role and, naturally, he got it. I did not expect him to give such a sterling performance—he is truly a natural.

 

Catch the last performance of “A Christmas Carol,” today, Dec. 25, at the Globe Iconic Amphitheater, 7th Avenue and High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig; tel. 8919999

 

Three kids

 

They say Christmas is for kids; indeed, it is, not because of the toys they have received nor their belief in Santa Claus, but rather their childlikeness that makes them open to new ideas and new ways of doing things and experimenting with them. Here lies the reason why Jesus said, “Unless you change and become little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

 

I’m proud to say that there are three children, all age 8, in my temple studying and absorbing what IAMISM is about and proving that today’s generation is truly quite advanced.

 

J-Anne Vidal is now half-way in memorizing “A Miracle Awaits You” and quotes from it.

 

Dewayde Dizon, who was introduced in the musical “A Christmas Carol” as Tiny Tim, is another example of someone who, at an early age, understands reincarnation.

 

Asked when he decided he wanted to be an actor-singer, without hesitation he replied: “I was 2 years old.”

 

He even tithes from his income with such joy that when he decrees for something, even if it is not for himself, gets a positive response from the Universe. After two months of coming along with an aunt to the temple, he announced to his mother: “Milyonaryo na tayo, ma.”

 

His mother Margaret got so perplexed and asked, “What are you talking about son?” Well, a few weeks ago, to his parents’ amazement, Dewayde’s pronouncements have come to pass.

 

Isaiah Galon, on the other hand, has just started going to the temple; after every lecture, one is surprised how complete his notes are on the many subjects that I talk about. When asked, his answers show how deeply he understands the principle.

 

 

Humbled

 

Of the many gifts I received this Christmas, my favorite is a personal note reviewing one of my books, from no less than the multi-awarded journalist, author and advocate of culture and arts, Rosalinda “Baby” Orosa.

 

In her card, she writes: “When I started reading ‘You Are God As You,’ I wouldn’t let go of the book. I had to finish reading it. I can’t ever write a book such as yours. The depth and breadth of its perception and perspective are incomparable. Highly balanced, they are imperatives not only to love of God but also to love of one’s country. The book’s appeal is thus spiritual, patriotic and intellectual. How it inspires, uplifts and enlightens!”

 

I am truly humbled and I wish my father, who was one of her favorite people, were around to read this review.

 

 

 

Priscilla and Elvira

 

There are two ladies I lovingly remember at Christmastime: my mother Priscilla, and the incomparable “Two For the Road” host Elvira Manahan.

 

They were both beautiful, elegant and had class. They also shared a wonderful sense of humor.

 

In one of our tourism-sponsored tours in Hong Kong and Singapore, Elvira and I were constantly featuring fabulous restaurants. In one of those occasions, Elvira would announce each meal course and when she got to an item which read, “Fish balls in special tangerine sauce,” she inadvertently asked, “Do fishes have balls?”

 

My mother, on the other hand, once donned a necklace that she had just given herself as a Christmas gift. My father, the businessman that he was, remarked, “Do you realize that we could have bought a nice piece of land with the price of that necklace,” to which my mother nonchalantly answered, “But I cannot wear land around my neck.”

 

I treasure these memories. My mom and Elvira always made sure to make me know how much they cared. In IAMISM, I teach that there are three things that every human being innately desires: to be noticed, to be cared for and to be loved.