It’s that wonderful time of the year when we make time for our family and friends.
A big benefit of being involved with our parish here in San Antonio is that we have developed terrific friendships. Through these relationships, we are invited to several holiday parties, which makes this season even better.
Movie Night
A few years back, my wife and I decided to invite a few couples to watch a Christmas movie in our home theater. The way it works is that the couples decide on the preferred movie via a group text, and we have it ready to go on the evening we get together.
We usually have a beef lasagna dish as the main course, and the other couples bring the sides. We also blame our Catholic tradition for the wine that must be part of our get-together.
Around midway through the movie, we take a quick break to heat up the lasagna. The timing is usually pretty good because the food is nice and hot when the movie ends.
The Tamale Christmas Party
Several years ago, a parish couple invited us to their tamale Christmas party, and Dulce and I do whatever we can to attend. The food and friendship are awesome!
This year was no exception, and the tamales were a mix of pork, beef, and cow head meat. I was unaware of the cow head meat until after I had eaten a couple of them. They were beyond good!
One cool thing about these events is that we get to know our friends even better. For example, one friend asked about my mother, and she said, “Rosemary is your mother?”
After I acknowledged the relationship, she went on to say that she worked for my mother in her 20s. We had known her for many years, and this topic had not arisen.
Later in the evening, I chatted with a men’s bible study friend who is also a Dallas Cowboys fan. We discussed the upcoming game, and Joe shared what it was going to take for the Cowboys to be victorious on Sunday. He had the key stats at the top of his head.
I asked Joe about his family, and he confided with me that his wife was recently diagnosed with cancer and would be starting chemotherapy this week. I let him know she would be in our prayers, and I promised to follow-up.
The Good and the Bad
As you can see, the holiday season is a wonderful time together. However, it can be a challenging time for many.
I’ve mentioned before in these writings that our oldest son, Eric, passed away in 2021. Well, the Christmas season is tough for us because we don’t have him with us anymore. We used to always get a table for six, but now one chair is empty.
It’s also tough that his birthday falls on December 18th. I get teary-eyed thinking about it, but I am also grateful for the 29 years we had him in our lives.
I find comfort in my faith, knowing that one day Eric and I will see each other again.
Merry Christmas, my friends!
Inspiring Quotes
"Love is when you meet someone who tells you something new about yourself." – Andre Breton
"I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect, and I loved you even more." – Angelita Lim
Homework Inquiry
During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: How will you show your love for others?
I use this opportunity to share with you a unique story and a couple inspiring quotes. Oh ... as a professor at heart, you guessed it, I have a homework inquiry for you. This is a powerful question that might just trigger you to take action on something that really matters in your life. If you feel the Catalyst Newsletter brings benefit to you,
please share this link with others!
See you next week!
Dr. Jimmie Flores