The Christmas Gift I Wish for Myself

There is hardly a time when a wish does not find home in my mind. It does not matter what time of the year it is, or what size of wish. More so at Christmas, I find the year ending as an opportune time for reflecting on how the year had been for me and how I wish the coming year to be.

It’s that time of the year once again and my mind is filled with thoughts of the one gift that I wish to receive. I imagine that if I can have this one gift, everything else will fall in their right places for me. My only hope is that I deserve to have it.

I wish to receive the gift of forgiveness this Christmas. I pray for those whom I may have aggrieved to find it in their hearts to forgive my recklessness. If the offense was intentional on my part, it was for sure a lapse in judgment. If unintended, I seek forgiveness just the same.

Despite efforts to be always mindful of my demeanor, I admit that at one time or another I must have had said a word or committed an act at the expense of another person. I know that my own intention is immaterial – that pain caused is cruelty done, intended or not.

I also wish to find in myself the same forgiveness I seek from others. May I always have the good sense to consider that every unkind word and action directed at me is not really meant in the way that hurts me. But even if, in my fair judgment, the attack is deliberate, I shall only complain of the offense and not condemn the offender.

The same forgiveness I give others, I shall give myself too. I shall come to terms with my own limitations and shortcomings as a human being. I will continue reaching for the stars, but my feet shall keep firmly on the ground.

I shall bear in mind that while I may have been created for perfection, such hallowed state is attained only by the grace of God. Yet I will strive for excellence – to try to actualize my God-given human potentials. Most of all, may I learn to forgive myself for those times when I was too weak to prevent sin from momentarily taking over my being.

The gift of forgiveness is what I wish for myself this Christmas. I believe it is the one thing that will clear my life of the many unnecessary burdens. And so I may go on my journey smoothly – no more hatred, no more guilt, no more bitterness, no more regrets.