As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.

During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.

As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them,but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration.

Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts.

But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited.
I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor!

At midnight all the people began to hug each other;
I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me.

Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if,maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one?

I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me.

I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you.

Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements..

Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you.

I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters, in my great guest book.

Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon.....

I Love you!

~HIDUP ADALAH SEBUAH PERJALANAN~

Hidup adalah sebuah perjalanan yang diukir dengan pelajaran, pergumulan, luka hati, sukacita, perayaan dan momen spesial yang pada akhirnya akan mengantar kita menuju akhir perjalanan yakni tujuan hidup kita.
Perjalanan tidak selalu mudah dan menyenangkan; kenyataannya, disepanjang perjalanan, kita akan menghadapi banyak tantangan.

Beberapa tantangan ini akan menguji keberanian, kekuatan, kelemahan, dan iman kita. Di sepanjang perjalanan, kita bisa terjatuh karena hambatan yang muncul diantara jalan-jalan yang sudah kita putuskan untuk kita jalani. Agar bisa mengikuti jalan yang benar, kita harus mengatasi hambatan-hambatan ini. Kadang-kadang tantangan ini merupakan berkat yang tersembunyi, tetapi kita mungkin tidak menyadari saat itu..

Disepanjang perjalanan, kita akan menghadapi berbagai situasi, ada perjalanan yang diisi dengan sukacita, ada juga yang diisi dengan luka hati. Bagaimana reaksi kita terhadap apa yang kita hadapi akan menentukan hasil seperti apa yang akan kita terima selama sisa perjalanan kita.

Ketika segala sesuatu tidak berjalan seperti yang kita harapkan, kita memiliki dua pilihan untuk menghadapi situasi tersebut. Kita bisa fokus pada kenyataan bahwa segala sesuatu tidak berjalan seperti yang kita harapkan dan kitapun menjalaninya atau kita bisa mengambil sisi terbaik dari segala sesuatu dan mengetahui bahwa ini hanyalah untuk sementara dan kita menemukan hal-hal yang harus kita pelajari.

Waktu terus berjalan, dan jika kita membiarkan diri kita fokus pada hal-hal yang negatif, bisa jadi kita akan kehilangan hal-hal yang benar-benar ajaib yang ditawarkan oleh kehidupan.
Kita tidak bisa kembali ke masa lalu, kita hanya bisa mengambil hikmah dari apa yang telah kita pelajari dan dari pengalaman yang telah kita raih di masa lalu dan terus melangkah.
Sesungguhnya karena luka hati, juga berbagai kesulitan hiduplah yang pada akhirnya membuat kita menjadi orang yang lebih tegar.

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Kalian berasa ga hidup ini terlalu kejam terhadap kita? For me, maybe, thats the way it is suppose to be. Dan kita dikasi kemampuan untuk menjalani semua tantangan hidup kita. Sekaligus kita juga dikasi saat untuk berbahagia, gembira, dan senyum2 sepanjang hari.

Ohh yeah,,,thats life!!!!