My kids unwrapped book number 16 in our annual Christmas countdown the other day. The title of the book we read that day was Christmas in February. This book was given to me by Insular Life in one of the events that they sponsored. It’s about a little boy whose mom is an OFW or overseas Filipino worker. The boy lives with his grandparents while his mom works abroad as a nurse. They celebrate Christmas in February when his mom goes on vacation in the Philippines.

Christmas in February Book Review

I love the lessons that this children’s book teaches kids and adults alike, that’s why I love including it in our yearly Christmas countdown.

After reading the book, I pointed out to the kids that our family is blessed because we are together not just at Christmastime but every day of the year. I told them that not all families get to experience that. Some children do not see or talk to their parents daily like them. Some children do not get to hug and kiss their parents or get to eat meals with them every day. Some children are not able to celebrate their milestones and special occasions like their birthdays, graduation, Christmas and New Year with their parents. Some parents work far away from their families, like many of our overseas Filipino workers. I told them that they should be grateful to God that their parents do not work far away.

Sometimes, we takes these blessings forgranted because they are our norm. But, truly, the presence of our family members in our lives is a gift. It’s a gift that not all families enjoy daily. So, it’s good to be reminded to celebrate and rejoice that we are with our family members.  

The truth is that each family member’s presence is so precious that it cannot be compared or replaced by any material gift, no matter how expensive!

It’s a reminder also that when times are hard and when there are no other presents under your Christmas tree, your family is still blessed when you are with each other at Christmastime.

It’s a wonderful and important lesson to teach our kids, especially these days when Christmas is so commercialized. Some people, kids and adults alike, have reduced Christmas to merely shopping and parties. People forget the reason for the season.

We need to remind each other that Jesus gave the most precious gift on Christmas day when He became present to us… when the Word became flesh. He didn’t have to come to the world. But He chose to be present to us. He chose to be with us. To this day, He continues to be present to us in the Holy Eucharist and other sacraments and the many moments in our lives whether we notice Him or not.

This children’s book gives parents a good opportunity to teach children that people are more important than things. That the presence of their family members and the other important people people in their lives is more important than the material gifts that they get from them.

This Christmas, let us remember that presents are nice but presence is of greater value. Let us also teach our children this important lesson so that they would not become materialistic.

This was also the homily of the priest that same day. Fr. Dave asked, “What really makes you happy?” “Where does your happiness come from?”

Then, he reminded the people attending the anticipated Simbang Gabi that night that real and lasting happiness can only come from God. He also added that people are more important than our material possessions.

He told the story of a wife who shared that she hardly sees her husband because he has been always at work even on Sundays. Then, one day, she happily shared with the priest that she’s very happy for his husband bought a new car. Sadly, that happiness was shortlived. After two weeks, her husband had a vehicular accident. She lost her husband in that car accident. 

That’s why I loved how the story progressed and ended in Christmas in February. The family members who were left in the Philippines looked for ways to help the OFW in the story to go back home for good.

I think that all OFW children would benefit from reading this story.

The book not only promotes financial literacy but also teaches values.

Overseas Filipinos Summit

Are you an OFW or a spouse of an OFW? Or do you have other relatives and friends who are also OFWs?

We have great news for you! My friend Sha Nacino organized an online summit that will help and bless OFWs. It’s called the Overseas Filipinos Summit. I’m honored to be chosen as one of the speakers. The title of my talk is From OFW to Online Filipino Worker: How to Have a Successful Transition. In this talk, I teach OFWs how they can eventually leave their job abroad so they can earn in the Philippines and be close to their children instead. There are over 30 speakers in this online summit. One of them is Sha and I’s mentor, Bo Sanchez. And the best thing about this is that you can access this online summit for FREE! Yes, FREE OF CHARGE! 

TODAY, is the last day to sign up for this online summit for free! So, claim your Christmas gift from us NOW! Don’t miss this chance! These talks could change the course of your family’s life! Click here to sign up for free!

  Here are some of the talks in this summit:

• How to Find Work-Life Balance
• How to Take Care Of Yourself
• From OFW to Online Filipino Worker
• How to Keep Relationships Alive Despite the Distance
• How to FireProof Your Marriage and Family as OFWs
• How OFWs can Break Bad Money Habits
• How to Put Up Your Business in the Philippines

Do these talks excite you? There’s so much more FREE material that you can access! So, don’t waste your time and GET YOUR FREE PASS NOW! Sign up here.

Feel free to forward this to your relatives and friends who are OFWs also! Please help us spread the good news!

Advance Merry Christmas again and hope you get to spend quality time with your loved ones this Christmas! 

P.S. If you are an OFW or a spouse of an OFW and you seriously want your family to be together again, I invite you check out my online coaching program wherein I help parents transition or become hands-on parents while earning. In this program, I help parents discover ways by which they can still earn income to support their family but at the same time spend regular quality time with their children. Click here to read more about this program.