What Jesus means to me at Christmas

We were supposed to share on this topic and several labels came to mind.
1) Strength: keeping me strong for my dad and to inspire others despite my arthritis and my mum's death.
2) Comforter: linked to strength.
3) Sustainer: sustaining my voice at Midnight Mass, after the Pageant. Could hold my notes and sound fine for O Holy Night.
4) Glory: linked to sustainer
5) Love: the love of the people around my dad and I ever since my mum's demise
6) Holiness: a surreal and yet real feeling when the shepherds and kings walked to the stable to worship the King during the Pageant.
7) Welcomer: especially for the disabled like me, when I was sitting at the side because I can't kneel. "He comes to call the sick and not the healthy."

Nativity's Church's ornate architecture

Believe it was the former tabernacle. Depicts two scenes: Nativity of Jesus and the Flight to Egypt.

A stronger awareness of God when overseas

I find that I am more reliant on God when I am abroad. I pray to him for every small but significant thing. I pray for perfect weather, smooth traffic, a smooth flight, a safe journey and physical protection. When I get these blessings, I know He has answered my prayers. Somehow being in a foreign country makes us vulnerable, since we have only ourselves and anything can happen to us, if not for His watchful eyes over us.

On my most recent trip to Turkey, I was also blessed with a knowledge of His life and His church, through the religious sites we visited. It was an especially meaningful trip, as we went to His Mother's house in Ephesus. We also went to an open-air museum in Cappadocia, which had paintings of events in His life for us to admire.

He also blessed me so abundantly with His guardian angels in the guise of the friends of my parents. They took care of me and showered me with all the goodness of God.