The Holidays: Reflecting on Life and Being Grateful for What We Have

The holidays always carry a special kind of joy—one woven with nostalgia and memories of wonder. I am transported back to childhood, to nights when my mother baked cakes in the quiet hours before dawn, filling our home with warmth and magic. That was how she expressed her love—not through words, but through those cherished Christmas desserts that made us feel deeply loved and wonderfully special.

We didn’t have an abundance of gifts back then, but each of us eagerly awaited the single present we received, our excitement filling the room. After all, we were a family of eight children, rich not in things, but in togetherness.

The holidays also awaken a renewed sense of gratitude for all that life has so generously given us. As the years pass, those treasured memories of my younger days—when our mother was still with us—shine even more brightly. We miss her dearly. She was the pillar of our family, which, like so many families today, has grown smaller and scattered across distances.

I know I am not alone in holding such magical memories. For some, this season can also be a tender and difficult time, when loneliness makes itself known and hearts grieve those who have departed for the heavenly light. The holidays remind us that our time here is precious and limited, and that gratitude for what we have—and for those we love—is essential.

Happy Holidays to my family, my friends near and far, and to all those around the world.

Voices of Women Series

Our Late Mother, Candide, Christmas at my house in 2003