Season of Care: Lessons from Pearls and Winter

Christmas in Our Hearts

As the year draws to a close and the winter air grows crisp, I can’t help but remember the familiar melody of Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts” drifting through shopping malls, radios, and even quiet corners of our homes. There is something quietly comforting in that song, a gentle reminder that Christmas is not just about gifts, decorations, or rush — it is about heart, care, and presence. Just like a pearl, the holiday season teaches us that beauty is formed through patience and careful nurturing, not haste.

Moments Like Pearls

Cultured pearls begin from a bead and through time, protection, and patience, they are transformed into something luminous and rare. In the same way, our moments, gestures, and relationships can be crafted with care, becoming treasures that shine beyond the material. Each ornament hung on the tree, each note in a carol, each shared meal carries a subtle layering of thoughtfulness — echoes of intention that make the season meaningful.

The Gift of Slowness

During this season, it is easy to feel the pull of urgency: last-minute gifts, crowded stores, endless planning. Yet if we pause for just a moment, we notice the warmth that lives in the slow, gentle acts: the handwritten card, the carefully chosen gift, the smile we offer without expectation. Much like the pearls I curate from skilled Filipino artisans, particularly from the tribes of Maranao and Badjao, whose small, patient gestures are the true treasures of Christmas — gifts that linger in memory and heart long after the wrapping is gone.

Gain Clarity and Perspective

There is also a certain magic in reflection. As we listen to familiar tunes like “Christmas in Our Hearts”, we remember not only the joys but also the challenges of the year past. We honor the resilience we carried through small disturbances, the growth that took time, the moments that taught us patience, and the connections that deepened because we nurtured them. Just as a pearl is not rushed, the lessons of life and love are not instantaneous; they require attention, care, and often love.

Intention before Giving

This season invites us to pause, to be present, and to give with thoughtfulness. It reminds us that our presence can be the most meaningful gift — a conversation held with kindness, a moment of laughter shared, a simple touch of gratitude. And when we do choose a tangible gift, may it carry the same care and intention: a pearl necklace, a delicate set of earrings, or a handcrafted bracelet, each layer the result of patient, thoughtful creation by talented hands. In these acts, we mirror the way nature creates pearls: slowly, deliberately, beautifully.

So as we move through Christmas this year, may we embrace the softness, patience, and intentionality that make life rich. Let us give gifts that carry heart, let us reflect on the year’s layers with gratitude, and let us cherish the luminous moments — however small — that make life shine. Just as a pearl’s glow comes from time and care, so too can our lives and relationships radiate beauty when we move deliberately, with warmth, and with purpose.

May we find the quiet joy in being mindful, the warmth in shared presence, and the deep satisfaction that comes from creating something lasting — both in our hearts and in the hearts of those we touch.

Keep shinning inside and out!

- Florence