Christmas 2012, the time when I experienced the truest meaning of the Holy Season. I may be wheelchair bound as I celebrated Christmas with my family but neither the wheelchair nor my knee injury could prevent me from experiencing the true spirit of Christmas. I may not be able to move around but my heart was moved as I witnessed the love from the Lord Himself and from my family and friends.

Ten months earlier, me and my family were so excited about our holiday visit to the Philippines to celebrate the holy season with our loved ones back home. This will be our first Christmas ever in 12 years since we migrated to Singapore. As early as June, we were all set to go. Our flights were booked, hotel reservations for out of town were done, souvenirs were bought and gifts were wrapped. We couldn't wait to pack our clothes too because of so much excitement.

But then something happened, we were all ready but not with this unexpected circumstance. However through this experience, I have received the most valuable lessons from God. Five months before our much awaited holiday, suddenly my right knee hurt and I couldn't walk without limping and standing even for a minute was a struggle; God taught me how to be patient. I went for physical therapy and they advised me to exercise my knees and legs everyday without fail so that the strength of my weakened leg muscles can be restored; God told me to persevere. I took a medicine for the pain but it made things worse when I suffered from insomnia due to the side effects of the medication; He trained me how to endure sufferings. I couldn't walk and I couldn't sleep; the Lord humbled me. And God as faithful as He is, said to us "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). By witnessing God's love and mercy through His every day miracles and interventions, we have seen and experienced the most glorious Christmas ever. Through these circumstances, God also taught us the right way to prepare and celebrate His birth. We have learned that it's not about the gifts and any other material things, not our glamor when we wear our coolest attire, not the glitter from the Christmas decorations and not even the tastiest meal on our table but what truly matters is the LOVE in our hearts just like the unconditional love of God towards us "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 5:21); the SACRIFICES that we are willing to take just like what our Lord Jesus Christ had done for us "He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed" (Isaiah 53:5) and the HUMILITY that we are ought to show to our brothers and sisters just like what our Lord had shown us "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Yes, I was riding a wheelchair as we embarked on the plane at Changi Airport and as we landed at NAIA but it doesn't matter at all because I may be disabled in the eyes of others but in the eyes of God I am perfectly whole, all set to celebrate Christmas. Then as I close my eyes to thank and praise God, a picture of a far more glorious scene of arrival came into my mind, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:11-14).